Vocabulary

abstract

ˈæbstrækt
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
abstract art does not try to represent real people or things but uses shapes and colours in order to create particular feelings or effects
Adjective
  • an exhibition of abstract paintings
  • he started doing abstract compositions while he was still at art school
  • his work was purely abstract, but full of life and colour
  • the drawing was simple, almost abstract
  • Noun: abstract
  • he submitted two abstracts for the exhibition

abuse

əˈbjuːs
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
abuse is a bad or wrong use of something, especially when this can cause harm to someone
Noun
  • drug/alcohol/substance abuse
  • racial abuse
  • the problem of drug and alcohol abuse
  • the abuse of power
  • a horrific case of child abuse
  • he suffered racial abuse (cruel treatment because of his race)
  • the report documented widespread human rights abuses
  • domestic abuse that includes physical violence is called domestic violence
  • Verb: abuse
  • Noun: abuser
  • Adjective: abusive
  • Adverb: abusively
  • she began to abuse alcohol as a teenager
  • a small minority of parents beat and abuse their children
  • most child abusers are people the child knows
  • suicide is very common in young alcohol abusers
  • any abusive behaviour in the school is unacceptable
  • she told me she'd left her abusive boyfriend
  • he married her, but treated her abusively

acceptance

əkˈseptəns
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
acceptance is agreement that something is true or useful or necessary
Noun uncount
  • gain acceptance
  • widespread acceptance
  • there is greater acceptance that technology can play an important role
  • new crops were introduced and gained widespread acceptance
  • no single alternative solution has achieved acceptance
  • Verb: accept
  • Adjective: acceptable
  • his theory has never been widely accepted
  • we simply accept that behaviour as normal
  • it took hours of negotiating to reach an acceptable solution

account for

əˈkaʊnt ˌfɔː(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
to account for something means to be the reason for it happening
Phrasal verb
  • the large number of Russian billionaires accounts for the rise in luxury car sales
  • what might account for his aggressive behaviour?
  • a wet August accounted for the bad harvest
  • heart disease accounted for millions of deaths last year

accusation

ˌækjʊˈzeɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
if you make an accusation, you say that something bad has happened or that someone has done something wrong
Noun
  • make an accusation
  • level an accusation against someone
  • deny an accusation
  • a serious accusation
  • a wild accusation
  • accusations of poor food hygiene
  • she made a serious accusation against her boss
  • both groups levelled accusations against each other
  • officials denied all accusations that they were responsible
  • I want to address the serious accusations that were made against me
  • do you have any evidence to support these wild accusations?
  • Verb: accuse
  • Noun: accuser
  • accuse someone of (doing) something
  • several clubs were accused of using unregistered players
  • the two men were accused of murder
  • opposition leaders regularly accuse the government of mismanagement
  • he plans to pursue legal action against his accusers
  • you need to face your accusers

acknowledge

əkˈnɒlɪdʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
to acknowledge something means to accept that it is true
Verb
  • acknowledge that
  • our cultural differences were acknowledged and accepted
  • she acknowledges that there are some dishonest bankers
  • I do acknowledge the need for some changes
  • she refused to acknowledge her guilt
  • I fully acknowledge that I made mistakes
  • we were forced to acknowledge the truth
  • Noun: acknowledgement
  • I want an acknowledgement that mistakes were made

acknowledge

əkˈnɒlɪdʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
to acknowledge something means to accept that it is true
Verb
  • acknowledge that
  • she acknowledges that there are some dishonest bankers
  • I do acknowledge the need for some changes
  • she refused to acknowledge her guilt
  • I fully acknowledge that I made mistakes
  • we were forced to acknowledge the truth
  • Noun: acknowledgement
  • I want an acknowledgement that mistakes were made

acquire

əˈkwaɪə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
to acquire something means to get it, for example by buying it
Verb
  • he acquired a number of valuable paintings
  • I recently acquired a copy of the report
  • he had acquired a reputation as a troublemaker
  • the cost to acquire the property was $5 million
  • the way in which children acquire language
  • to acquire knowledge
  • Noun: acquisition
  • the acquisition of language
  • let me show you my recent acquisition (something I got recently)

action

ˈækʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
if you take legal action against someone, you start a case in a court of law because you want to prove that they have done something wrong
Noun
  • bring a legal action (against someone)
  • take legal action
  • face legal action
  • the surgeon is facing legal action for using the wrong procedure on a patient
  • if I don’t pay by the end of the month, they’ll take legal action
  • any member state can bring an action before the European Court of Justice
  • an action against the company seeking to enforce the contract
  • Adjective: actionable
  • breach of contract is actionable (it can justify someone taking legal action)

add up

æd ˈʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
if amounts add up, they make one large amount when they are all put together
Phrasal verb
  • they’re not a lot individually, but they all add up
  • with drinks and service the meal added up to over £100
  • all these bills add up to more than we can afford

addiction

əˈdɪkʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
addiction is the state of being dependent on something such as drink or drugs or gambling and being unable to do without it
Noun
  • drug/alcohol/gambling addiction
  • he needed money to feed his addiction
  • Natalie had bad experiences with gambling addiction
  • treatment for alcohol addiction
  • committing crimes to support their drug addiction
  • he was struggling to overcome his addiction
  • Adjective: addicted
  • Noun: addict
  • Adjective: addictive
  • be addicted to something
  • a drug addict
  • highly addictive
  • he eventually became addicted to alcohol and cocaine
  • nine out of ten smokers became addicted before the age of 19
  • they are both recovering addicts (recently stopped being addicted)
  • a drug addict
  • tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive
  • people with addictive personalities (who become addicted very easily)

admission

ədˈmɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
if you make an admission, you say that you have done something wrong or something that people will not approve of
Noun
  • an admission of something
  • an admission that
  • Henry's letter contained a clear admission of early mistakes
  • what he said was not an admission of guilt
  • I hope your admission will help others with the same problems
  • there was no admission that any change had taken place
  • by his own admission, his data was unreliable
  • Verb: admit
  • Adverb: admittedly
  • admit doing something
  • admit to (doing) something
  • admit that
  • they'll never openly admit being wrong
  • he admitted to being a liar
  • the farmers finally admitted that they had acted wrongly
  • admittedly, the problems this creates are enormous
  • admittedly, not every detail is authentic

advisor

ədˈvaɪzə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
an advisor is someone whose job is to provide specialist advice to a person or group of people
Noun
  • a special advisor to the UN Secretary General
  • Larson will remain within the company as a senior advisor
  • for more information, consult your tax advisor
  • a technical advisor to the Department of City Planning
  • Verb: advise
  • Noun: advice
  • Adjective: advisory
  • she advises both technology firms and investors
  • he advised clients on mergers and other financial matters
  • she took expert advice before buying the company
  • they were impressed with the professional advice and guidance provided
  • the advisory committee meets four times each year
  • he also held several important advisory positions

affair

əˈfeə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
if someone has an affair, they develop a sexual relationship with someone who is not their long-term partner
Noun
  • have an affair
  • Clark had had several affairs during his marriage
  • my husband had an affair 20 years ago
  • he accused her of having an affair
  • she had a brief affair with a colleague
  • both she and her spouse had extramarital affairs

affection

əˈfekʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
affection is the feeling you have for someone when you like them very much
Noun uncount
  • great/deep/genuine/mutual affection
  • affection for someone
  • hold someone in affection
  • a show of affection
  • he never felt any great affection for her
  • I know she feels a deep affection for you
  • he spoke of his mother with affection and respect
  • a public show of affection
  • outward signs of affection
  • he was held in great affection by the whole family
  • Adjective: affectionate
  • Adverb: affectionately
  • affectionate towards someone
  • affectionately known as something
  • affectionately called something
  • she is very affectionate towards my aunt
  • I have very affectionate memories of the teachers at my old school
  • they were clearly a happy and affectionate family
  • Mr Wilkins, or Wilko as he was affectionately known

affectionate

əˈfekʃ(ə)nət
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
someone who is affectionate shows their love and affection for other people in the way that they behave towards them
Adjective
  • be affectionate towards someone
  • they are by nature very affectionate children
  • he is a popular, affectionate boy with a good sense of humour
  • my grandmother was strict, but always affectionate
  • affectionate husbands
  • she is very affectionate towards members of our family
  • Noun: affection
  • Adverb: affectionately
  • great/deep/genuine/mutual affection
  • affection for someone
  • hold someone in affection
  • a show of affection
  • be affectionately known as something
  • be affectionately called something
  • he never felt any great affection for her
  • I know she feels a deep affection for you
  • he spoke of his mother with affection and respect
  • a public show of affection
  • outward signs of affection
  • he was held in great affection by the whole family
  • Mr Wilkins, or Wilko as he was affectionately known
  • she spoke of him affectionately in public
  • she greeted us affectionately on our arrival
  • he patted his grandson's head affectionately

affluent

ˈæfluːənt
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
if someone is affluent, they have a lot of money and are able to live comfortably. If an area is affluent, it has expensive housing and shops that sell good quality items, and the people who live there are quite rich
Adjective
  • an affluent suburb/neighbourhood/area
  • an affluent lifestyle
  • Egremont developed as an affluent residential area in the early 19th century
  • an affluent, carefree lifestyle
  • Evans was born into an affluent family in North London
  • there was a golf course used by some of the more affluent residents
  • there are pockets of poverty, but in general this is an affluent area
  • Noun: affluence
  • her climb out of poverty to greater affluence
  • the family lived in relative affluence

affordable housing

əˌfɔː(r)dəb(ə)l ˈhaʊzɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
affordable housing is flats or houses that are available to rent or buy at prices which ordinary people can afford, especially when they are in an area where most housing is very expensive. Some areas need affordable housing so that essential workers such as nurses and teachers can live there and work in the local schools and hospitals
Noun uncount
  • a desperate shortage of affordable housing
  • the area offers affordable housing and excellent schools
  • we need more affordable housing here

after

ˈɑːftə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
if you say you are after something, you are trying to get it or buy it or find it
Preposition\
  • what kind of account were you after?
  • did you find what you were after?
  • I’m after a book on accountancy
  • the police are after him again

aid

eɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
aid is money or other things that are sent by a country to people who are suffering because of war, poverty, hunger etc
Noun uncount
  • humanitarian aid
  • financial aid
  • foreign aid
  • military aid
  • current aid is $24 billion per year
  • the country relies on foreign aid
  • send emergency food aid
  • fresh appeals for humanitarian aid
  • foreign aid is expected to double to $50 billion
  • a Red Cross aid convoy

alarm

əˈlɑː(r)m
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
an alarm is a warning that something bad is about to happen very soon
Noun
  • a neighbour heard screaming and raised the alarm
  • the phone call turned out to be a false alarm (nothing bad was going to happen)
  • the alarm was spread and many people ran to help in putting out the fire
  • he saw and heard nothing to excite alarm

alert

əˈlɜː(r)t
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
to alert someone means to tell them or warn them about something
Verb
  • alert someone to something
  • be alerted of something
  • this will alert farmers to any emergency
  • a website that alerts users to special offers
  • we immediately alerted the police
  • none of the residents had been alerted of the danger
  • Noun: alert
  • Adjective: alert
  • issue an alert
  • an alert has been issued as more storms are expected
  • a fire alert (a warning of a fire)
  • a flood alert
  • hospitals have been placed on high alert (warned that they need to be prepared for a lot of activity)
  • he’s very alert (aware of what is happening)

all-inclusive

ˌɔːlɪnˈkluːsɪv
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
if a price is inclusive of something, it includes the cost of that thing. If a holiday is all-inclusive, it includes all the costs of travelling, hotels, meals, etc
Adjective
  • an all-inclusive weekend break in Edinburgh for just £140
  • all-inclusive packages to 12 European capitals

altogether

ˌɔːltəˈɡeðə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
you use altogether to emphasise that something happens or is done completely
Adverb
  • face up to it, rather than avoiding it altogether
  • it disappeared altogether
  • the car slowed down until it stopped altogether
  • in 1920, the book was banned altogether

ambiguity

ˌæmbɪˈɡjuːəti
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
ambiguity is the quality a word or a piece of writing has when it can be understood in more than way
Noun
  • much of the ambiguity arose through his use of rare words
  • I believe in a very deliberate ambiguity in storytelling
  • you should rewrite the last paragraph to eliminate the ambiguity
  • there’s a lot of ambiguity in what he said
  • I worded it carefully to avoid ambiguity
  • Adjective: ambiguous
  • Adverb: ambiguously
  • Antonyms – Adjective: unambiguous
  • Adverb: unambiguously
  • some words are more ambiguous than others
  • the interpretation of this ambiguous phrase led to a serious argument between the two professors
  • he deliberately answered ambiguously
  • he gave his opinion in clear and unambiguous terms
  • any conditions attached to the offer must be stated unambiguously

ambiguous

æmˈbɪɡjuəs
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
if something is ambiguous, its meaning is not clear and it could be understood in more than one way
Adjective
  • his later paintings are quite ambiguous
  • some of the language is a bit ambiguous
  • I think she was being deliberately ambiguous
  • the interpretation of this ambiguous phrase led to a serious argument between the two professors
  • Adverb: ambiguously
  • Noun: ambiguity
  • Antonyms – Adjective: unambiguous
  • Adverb: unambiguously
  • he deliberately answered ambiguously
  • there’s a lot of ambiguity in what he said
  • I worded it carefully to avoid ambiguity
  • he gave his opinion in clear and unambiguous terms
  • any conditions attached to the offer must be stated unambiguously

amidst

əˈmɪdst
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
if something happens amidst other events, feelings, or activities, it happens with those things happening all around at the same time. To be amidst people means to have people all around you. Amidst is a literary word, and the usual word is amid
Preposition\
  • her family made an emotional appeal amidst growing fears for her safety
  • he resigned amidst allegations of corruption
  • I took my place amidst an utter silence
  • living amidst his family

amusement

əˈmjuːzmənt
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
amusement is any activity that is not work and that you do because you enjoy it. An amusement park is a place where there are a lot of machines that you can ride on for pleasure and fun, and where you can play games in order to try and win prizes
Noun
  • the amusement park is open from April to October
  • there are two amusement arcades by the beach
  • old fashioned amusement rides
  • bumper cars, water slides, and other amusement park attractions
  • the development of the amusement park industry

anarchy

ˈænə(r)ki
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
anarchy is a situation in which no one obeys any rules
Noun uncount
  • the country is sliding into anarchy
  • we are in a state of anarchy
  • a general atmosphere of near anarchy
  • police reported that conditions in the prison were close to anarchy
  • the cost of political failure includes violence and anarchy
  • Noun: anarchist
  • Noun: anarchism
  • Adjective: anarchic
  • anarchists who opposed any sort of political organisation
  • the creativity and anarchism of the 1960s
  • the result of truly anarchic individualist thinking

appalling

əˈpɔːlɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
if you say that something is appalling, you mean that it shocks you because it is so bad or unpleasant
Adjective
  • this wastefulness is appalling
  • children were forced to work in appalling conditions
  • the number of mosquitoes here is appalling
  • you behaved in an absolutely appalling manner last night
  • the stories they told were simply appalling
  • Adjective: appalled
  • Verb: appal
  • an appalled expression crossed her face
  • the prospect of another night outdoors appalled her
  • I was absolutely appalled by what I saw
  • the whole village was appalled and angry
  • the decision to release him will appal a lot of people

appeal

əˈpiːl
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
an appeal is a formal request to people in authority to consider their decision again and change it, especially when it is about a legal decision in a court of law
Noun
  • lodge/launch an appeal
  • win/lose an appeal
  • dismiss/reject an appeal
  • a successful/unsuccessful appeal
  • she’s launched an appeal against her sentence
  • he’s planning to lodge an appeal
  • he won his appeal
  • you might lose your appeal
  • the tribunal dismissed the appeal
  • none of the defendants was granted the right of appeal (they were not allowed to submit a formal appeal against a court’s decision)
  • Verb: appeal
  • appeal against something
  • can you appeal against the fine?
  • he’s going to appeal against the verdict
  • he’s been given leave to appeal (permission to appeal) to the High Court

appeal

əˈpiːl
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
if you appeal, or if you appeal against a decision, you ask people in authority to consider their decision again and change it
Verb
  • appeal against something
  • can you appeal against the fine?
  • he’s going to appeal against the verdict
  • he’s been given leave to appeal (permission to appeal) to the High Court
  • Noun: appeal
  • lodge/launch an appeal
  • win/lose an appeal
  • dismiss/reject an appeal
  • a successful/unsuccessful appeal
  • she’s planning to lodge an appeal
  • he won his appeal
  • you might lose your appeal
  • the tribunal dismissed the appeal
  • the defendant was given leave to appeal (allowed to submit a formal appeal against a court’s decision)

appeal

əˈpiːl
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
if something appeals to you, you think it is interesting and want to know more about it or get more involved in it
Verb
  • appeal to someone
  • there was something noble about him which appealed to her
  • a range of books designed to appeal to children up to the age of 10
  • what appealed to us about him was his sense of humour
  • Noun: appeal
  • Adjective: appealing
  • broad/popular appeal
  • lose appeal
  • have/hold appeal
  • the UK is worried it will lose its appeal
  • a movie with a lot of appeal
  • the sport has great appeal
  • as a tourist destination, the town holds no appeal
  • his manner is very appealing
  • a very appealing design

approach

əˈprəʊtʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
to approach someone or something means to move towards them so that you get close to them
Verb
  • the hero approaches the monster
  • a dark figure slowly approached him
  • they approached slowly, not wanting to make a noise
  • I could hear footsteps approaching
  • Noun: approach
  • Adjective: approaching
  • she glanced up at my approach (when she saw me coming closer)
  • a heavy footstep announced his approach
  • the approaching ship was a pirate ship
  • Madison inspected the approaching figure with interest

approach

əˈprəʊtʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
to approach someone or something means to move towards them so that you get close to them
Verb
  • he saw an old man approaching him
  • as I approached the beach, I could see them by the ice-cream van
  • the girl stood quite still as Marcus approached
  • Noun: approach
  • Adjective: approaching
  • Jess sat quietly, watching my approach
  • she couldn’t help feeling nervous at his approach
  • the sound of an approaching car

approach

əˈprəʊtʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
your approach to a problem or situation is the way you decide to deal with it or think about it
Noun
  • a new/different/alternative approach
  • a traditional approach
  • take an approach (to something)
  • you may need to change your approach to the subject
  • a traditional approach to staff development
  • it is time for a dramatically new approach
  • if it is impossible to find an alternative approach, then the experiment should be halted
  • Verb: approach
  • approach a problem/task/matter/issue
  • people approached the issue in different ways
  • think about how you intend to approach the problem

arise

əˈraɪz
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
if an issue or question arises, it starts to become important in such a way that you have to deal with it or answer it
Verb
  • a matter/issue/problem/situation/question arises
  • this situation would only arise if the prime minister were to die before the next election
  • this issue arises in different branches of computing
  • there may be financial problems arising from the patient's illness
  • the question arose as to what needed to be done

army

ˈɑː(r)mi
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
an army is a large number of soldiers who are trained to fight on land in wars
Noun
  • he served as a tank commander in the British army
  • the Austrian army was completely defeated
  • the British and French armies retreated to Dunkirk
  • he joined the regular army (an army of soldiers who chose to join, and were not forced to join by the government)
  • before the Winter War, no army had fought in such freezing conditions
  • his army marched direct to Prague
  • the army advanced quickly towards Berwick

array

əˈreɪ
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
an array of things is a large number of them
Noun
  • an array of something
  • a wide/vast array
  • a dazzling array
  • we have a wide array of modern equipment
  • they’ve got a vast array of different phones
  • the skirts come in an array of bright colours
  • there’s such an array of fascinating things to see in St Petersburg
  • we were faced with a bewildering array of electronic devices

assault

əˈsɔːlt
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
to assault someone means to attack them violently
Verb
  • physically/brutally assault someone
  • verbally assault someone
  • she denied physically assaulting her boss
  • he was accused of assaulting a student
  • she was savagely assaulted
  • she violently assaulted me on at least half a dozen occasions
  • he verbally assaulted the boy every time he saw him
  • Noun: assault
  • Smith was charged with sexual assault (attacking someone in a sexual way)
  • the building was not designed to resist an assault

assault

əˈsɔːlt
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
assault is the crime of violently attacking someone
Noun
  • he was convicted of assault
  • violent crimes such as murder and assault
  • assault and theft make up the vast majority of crimes in this city
  • Smith was found guilty of sexual assault (attacking someone in a sexual way)
  • he was later charged with assault and battery (a legal term for attacking someone)
  • Verb: assault
  • physically/brutally assault someone
  • she denied physically assaulting her boss
  • he was accused of assaulting a student
  • she violently assaulted me on at least half a dozen occasions

assert

əˈsɜː(r)t
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
to assert your power, authority, or rights means to behave in a way that shows you have that power, authority, or right and that you intend to use it
Verb
  • the villain asserted his power over the prisoners
  • as an employee you need to assert your rights before you lose them
  • he felt a need to assert his superiority
  • the king asserted his authority by force
  • Noun: assertion
  • Adjective: assertive
  • Adverb: assertively
  • an assertion of the rights of all women
  • her continual assertions of cultural authority
  • she was being more than usually assertive
  • you need to adopt a more assertive approach
  • the ability to handle difficult situations assertively
  • you need to speak more assertively in class

assume

əˈsjuːm
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
if you assume something, you think it must be true, even though you do not have any direct evidence to support this belief
Verb
  • assume that
  • it was assumed that the customer was at fault
  • I mistakenly assumed the fish was fresh
  • she just assumed that he would follow her
  • why do you automatically assume that every American is rich?
  • Noun: assumption
  • Conjunction: assuming
  • there is no way of knowing if your assumption is correct
  • it was a reasonable assumption that was later proved to be correct
  • read the documents before making any assumptions
  • assuming he’s telling the truth, we’ll have to think again about who did it

asthma

ˈæsmə
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
asthma is a medical condition which affects someone’s chest. People who have asthma cough a lot and sometimes have difficulty breathing
Noun uncount
  • suffer from asthma
  • an asthma attack
  • severe/acute/chronic asthma
  • one in seven primary-school children now suffers from asthma
  • taken to hospital after an asthma attack
  • her daughter has chronic asthma
  • cases of asthma and eczema are rising by about 5% every year
  • Adjective: asthmatic
  • Noun: asthmatic
  • an asthmatic attack
  • an asthmatic patient
  • I’m asthmatic, and so are my children
  • provision of care for asthmatic patients
  • a bad asthmatic attack
  • this medicine should not be given to children or asthmatics
  • she’s been an asthmatic for the last 20 years

attach

əˈtætʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
to attach something to something else means to fix it there so that the two things stay together. To attach something to an email means to send a computer file along with the message you have written, for example containing photos or documents
Verb
  • I’ve attached a few photos
  • I forgot to attach the map with directions to our house
  • my mail software won’t let me attach files bigger than 2MB
  • my electronic business card is attached
  • Noun: attachment
  • please print the attachment and sign it before posting it back to us
  • I’ve sent three photos in the attachments

attendance

əˈtendəns
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
attendance is the fact of being present somewhere where you are meant to be or have paid to be. The attendance at an event such as a football match is the number of people who go to it
Noun
  • compulsory attendance
  • regular attendance
  • church/school attendance
  • free school meals boost school attendance
  • in Germany, school attendance isn't compulsory until age six
  • regular church attendance was difficult for her
  • church attendance dropped in the following decade
  • 42,000 turned up, the highest attendance of the season
  • the festival now records average attendances of about 10,000
  • Verb: attend
  • Noun: attendee
  • my son has been attending school since age 4
  • the cost to attend is £35
  • we average 20 – 35 people attending every meeting
  • ticket sales are limited to 500 attendees
  • the conference featured over 100 speakers and 600 attendees

attendant

əˈtendənt
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
on an aeroplane, the attendants are the people who help the passengers and serve their food
Noun
  • a flight attendant
  • a cabin attendant
  • a job as a flight attendant
  • she works as a cabin attendant for Cathay Pacific
  • Verb: attend
  • attend to someone
  • can you attend to the passenger in seat 14B, please?

auction

ˈɔːkʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
an auction is a sale at which people offer increasing amounts of money until nobody wants to offer any more. The item is then bought by the person who made the last and highest offer
Noun
  • hold/conduct an auction
  • sell something at auction
  • let’s hold an auction to raise some money
  • the contents of the house were sold at public auction
  • the eight paintings were sold at auction
  • an auction house (a business which holds auctions)
  • an online auction site (where you can make offers over the Internet)
  • a charity auction raised nearly £1 million
  • Verb: auction
  • Noun: auctioneer
  • auction something off
  • the office closed down and all the contents were auctioned off
  • the silver will be auctioned tomorrow and the pictures on Tuesday
  • buyers were gathered round the auctioneer's table

audition

ɔːˈdɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
to audition for something means to act or sing in front of someone so that they can decide if you should have a part in a play or musical. You can also say that someone auditions you when you do this
Verb
  • they encouraged him to audition for a reality TV show
  • hundreds of actors auditioned and 28 landed parts in the film
  • he promised to audition me for the role of Ophelia
  • Matt was auditioned on Tuesday and hired on Wednesday
  • Noun: audition
  • after a successful audition, Bergman was offered the part
  • auditions will be held on 24th November
  • out of 300 actors, 50 were selected for a second audition

authorised

ˈɔːθəraɪzd
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
if you are authorised to do something, you have the official right or power to do it. You can also say that something is authorised if someone has given permission for it to happen
Adjective
  • I’m not authorised to make that decision
  • an authorised overdraft agreement
  • authorised payments are made every Wednesday
  • Verb: authorise
  • Noun: authorisation
  • Antonym: unauthorised
  • he authorised me to sign the cheque
  • no time off can be taken without authorisation
  • you need written authorisation to go on the school trip
  • unauthorised credit card usage

awkward

ˈɔːkwə(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
an awkward social situation is one in which people feel embarrassed because they think something is wrong but they do not know exactly what
Adjective
  • there was a bit of an awkward silence
  • there was an awkward moment when he mentioned Jack’s ex-wife
  • there was an awkward pause in the conversation when Alan arrived

awkward

ˈɔːkwə(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp88-89
something that is awkward is difficult to deal with. If somewhere is awkward to get to, it is difficult to find or involves taking several different sorts of transpoirt
Adjective
  • an isolated village that was very awkward to get to
  • it’s an awkward place to find, so let me drive you there
  • it was a long and awkward journey, but we got there in time for dinner

background

ˈbækˌɡraʊnd
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
if an object is in the background, it is behind the main thing you are looking at. Sounds you can hear but are not listening to are in the background
Noun
  • background music
  • background noise
  • in the background
  • the TV was on in the background
  • you could see it in the background
  • the dance music continued in the background

bad-tempered

ˌbæd ˈtempə(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
someone who is bad-tempered gets cross or angry very easily
Adjective
  • my sister’s so bad-tempered and spoilt
  • there’s no need to be so bad-tempered about it
  • it was only after they married that she noticed how bad-tempered he had become
  • I was questioned for ten minutes by a bad-tempered policeman
  • until Irina described me as bad-tempered, I had considered myself a peaceable man

bag

bæɡ
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
if you bag things, or if you bag them up, you put them into bags
Verb
  • can you help me bag these cauliflowers?
  • my job was bagging groceries at the supermarket
  • then they are bagged up and sent by truck to the supermarket

bailout

ˈbeɪlaʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
a bailout is a large sum of money that is intended to rescue a company or country that has very serious financial problems, and that would collapse completely without the extra money
Noun
  • a government bailout
  • a bailout package
  • they were saved from collapse by a government bailout
  • the US government reportedly lost $11.2 billion on its bailout of General Motors
  • the second largest bank bailout in history
  • the EU agreed a $170 billion bailout package for Greece
  • Phrasal verb: bail out
  • the IMF has a $15.6 billion fund to bail out countries in financial distress

ban

bæn
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
if someone in authority bans something, they do not allow it. If they ban someone from doing something, they do not allow them to do it
Verb
  • ban someone from doing something
  • my parents banned me from playing video games
  • he was permanently banned from visiting his ex-wife
  • all flights have been banned in the volcano region
  • tobacco advertising was banned years ago
  • Noun: ban
  • Adjective: banned
  • the public smoking ban was introduced in 2007
  • he received a lifetime ban from baseball for drug abuse
  • two cyclists tested positive for banned substances (had taken drugs that were not allowed)
  • he was charged with possession of banned publications

band

bænd
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
a band is a group of musicians who play music together
Noun
  • a rock/punk/brass/jazz band
  • a dance band
  • a live band
  • a comfortable bar with a jazz band
  • they hired a live band for the reception (the musicians were there, not a recording of them)
  • the band spent November on tour (travelling around a country to different concerts)
  • the band performs regularly in Italy
  • four months later, the band announced their split

bandage

ˈbændɪdʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp26-27
a bandage is a long piece of cloth that you wrap around a part of your body that is injured
Noun
  • we put a bandage on it
  • I wrapped the bandage round his arm
  • he had a bandage on his hand
  • once the bandage is removed, you’ll be able to have a shower
  • the nurse came every day to change the bandages
  • Verb: bandage
  • we bandaged his leg
  • he pointed to his bandaged arm
  • she bandaged Ray’s foot with her scarf

bankrupt

ˈbæŋkrʌpt
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
if a company is bankrupt, it does not have enough money to pay all its debts and so cannot continue to exist. People who are bankrupt cannot pay their debts, and their affairs are taken over by solicitors
Adjective
  • go bankrupt
  • be declared bankrupt
  • a lot of companies have gone bankrupt recently
  • the company was declared bankrupt last year
  • the business is almost bankrupt
  • later in life he became bankrupt
  • the country is effectively bankrupt with debts of £7 trillion
  • Verb: bankrupt
  • Noun: bankruptcy
  • Noun: bankrupt
  • the losses nearly bankrupted the business
  • just one more major accident will bankrupt the company
  • the firm later fell into bankruptcy
  • the couple now face bankruptcy
  • an undischarged bankrupt may not act as the director of a company (someone who became bankrupt and whose affairs are still not under his or her control)
  • I was officially declared a bankrupt

bankruptcy

ˈbæŋkrʌptsi
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
bankruptcy is a situation when someone does not have enough money to pay all their debts
Noun
  • declare bankruptcy
  • he later fell into bankruptcy
  • the couple now face bankruptcy
  • she was close to bankruptcy
  • the number of bankruptcies has risen
  • he declared bankruptcy and eventually lost his home
  • Steve Jobs brought Apple from near bankruptcy to profitability by 1998
  • Adjective: bankrupt
  • Verb: bankrupt
  • go bankrupt
  • be declared bankrupt
  • the company went bankrupt last year
  • they have been declared bankrupt
  • he’s virtually bankrupt
  • just one more major accident will bankrupt the company
  • due to poor financial management, the company was bankrupted

barrier

ˈbæriə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
a barrier is a physical object that blocks a road or path and stops you getting past. You can refer to any problem that stops you doing what you want to do as a barrier
Noun
  • a barrier to (doing) something
  • won’t the language be a barrier?
  • we want to remove barriers that prevent poorer students going to university
  • young families are facing several barriers to becoming home buyers
  • the biggest barrier to her success was fear

base

beɪs
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
if a business or organisation is based somewhere, that is where its main offices are. If a person is based somewhere, that is where they normally live or work when they are not travelling for their job
Verb
  • all the embassies are based in this district
  • I’m based in Amsterdam now, but spend one week a month in Berlin
  • the company moved to the London area, and based itself in Barnet

bear

beə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
if you can’t bear something, you dislike it very much and do not want it to continue any more
Verb
  • I’m thinking of leaving. I just can’t bear it here
  • he couldn’t bear the pain of losing his only son
  • I couldn’t bear the thought of waking up in prison
  • they couldn’t bear the idea of being separated

bear

beə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
if something doesn’t bear thinking about, it is so horrible or shocking that you don’t want to think about it
Verb
  • don’t remind me of how he died; it doesn’t bear thinking about
  • suppose we’d got on that plane? It doesn’t bear thinking about

beat

biːt
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
to beat someone means to hit them hard and repeatedly, causing injury and pain
Verb
  • beat someone to death
  • be beaten unconscious
  • he’d been attacked, then beaten to death
  • they beat him so hard that he had bruises for weeks
  • he was beaten unconscious by the force of the blow
  • Adjective: beaten
  • newspapers carried photos of the beaten man

beg

bɛɡ
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if you beg someone for something, you ask them for it in an anxious or desperate way
Verb
  • beg someone for something
  • beg someone to do something
  • beg for something
  • beg something
  • beg of someone
  • he begged her forgiveness
  • I beg you to reconsider
  • let me have it, I beg of you
  • can I beg a slice of bread from you?
  • he came round begging for another chance
  • Noun: beggar
  • a street beggar
  • a poor beggar

beneficiary

ˌbenɪˈfɪʃəri
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
a beneficiary of something is someone who gets a benefit or advantage from it
Noun
  • a beneficiary of something
  • the main/principal/primary beneficiary
  • the main beneficiary of the deal
  • I was the sole beneficiary of her will (the only person who received money from her will after she died)
  • borrowers will be the main beneficiaries if interest rates fall

bid

bɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
a bid is an attempt to do something
Noun
  • a bid for something
  • a bid to do something
  • a bid to tackle rising obesity rates
  • launch a takeover bid (an attempt to take over a company)
  • he made a bid for freedom (tried to escape)
  • the prime minister appeared on TV in a bid to win public support

big data

ˈbɪɡ ˌdeɪtə
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
big data is the very large amount of information that is now available because of the number of documents that can be searched on the Internet, and that needs special computer programs in order to be successfully analysed
Noun uncount
  • governments, too, are interested in big data
  • the promise of big data in health care is potentially revolutionary
  • many organisations are developing a big data strategy

big-budget

bɪɡ ˈbʌdʒɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
a budget is the amount of money you have available or that you plan to spend on things. A big-budget film is one that costs a lot of money to make
Adjective
  • a big-budget movie/film/production
  • we've made big-budget dramas and we've also made little half-hour shows
  • she co-starred with Brad Pitt in the big-budget film "Troy"
  • the first big-budget jazz film
  • Antonym – Adjective: low-budget
  • a low-budget movie/film/production
  • I worked on low-budget films that nobody saw
  • both movies were low-budget, and were never released in Britain

blame

bleɪm
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
if you blame someone, you accuse them of being responsible for something bad that has happened
Verb
  • blame someone for something
  • blame something on someone or something
  • be to blame
  • don’t blame me if your life is a disaster!
  • nobody is blaming you – it was an accident
  • Murray blamed his defeat on a lack of concentration
  • she blamed me for the accident
  • he was to blame for our being late
  • Noun: blame
  • Adjective: blameless
  • Adverb: blamelessly
  • the blame lies/rests with someone
  • get the blame
  • put/pin the blame on someone
  • some of the blame lies with the hospital
  • I always got the blame when my sister was naughty
  • he pinned the blame on the prime minister
  • she had led a blameless life
  • she knew her own conduct had not been entirely blameless
  • she acted blamelessly throughout the whole process

blend

blend
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
to blend things means to mix them together so that they become one substance
Verb
  • blend something together
  • blend the whole mixture until it’s smooth
  • blend the butter and sugar together
  • they can blend the colours for you
  • the different instruments blend together really well
  • Noun: blend
  • a delicious blend of flavours
  • the perfect blend of sun, sea and sand
  • our own blend of coffee (using different sorts of coffee beans)

blessing

ˈblesɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
a blessing is a set of words that are spoken in order to ask God to take care of someone or something
Noun
  • give a blessing
  • he whispered special holy words in the baby’s ear as a blessing for his future life
  • she received a blessing from the Pope
  • the priest gave a blessing, and then we left
  • may God's blessing be with us all
  • Verb: bless
  • Adjective: blessed
  • God bless you all this Christmas time
  • ask God to bless those who persecute you
  • may the Lord bless you on your journey
  • blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

blister

ˈblɪstə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
a blister is a swollen area on your skin that is full of clear liquid and is caused by rubbing the skin too much
Noun
  • I got terrible blisters
  • blisters on my feet
  • a nasty blister on my left heel
  • he had blood blisters on both hands (blisters that were filled with blood)
  • my new shoes gave me blisters straight away

blossom

ˈblɒs(ə)m
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
blossom is the flowers that grow on trees before the fruit develop. When a tree blossoms, it has blossom on its branches. If a person blossoms or if their career blossoms, they become happy and successful
Noun
  • be in blossom
  • blossom comes out
  • spring is a good time because of all the blossom on the trees
  • these blossoms appear long before the leaves
  • fruit trees covered in blossom
  • the cherry trees are in blossom
  • beautiful pink blossom
  • the apple blossom has come out (the flowers have opened)
  • Verb: blossom
  • since she won an Oscar her career has blossomed
  • they met at college, and slowly their relationship blossomed

blow down

ˈbləʊ ˌdaʊn
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
if something is blown down, it collapses or is destroyed by very strong winds in a storm
Phrasal verb
  • the storm blew down a tree which hit our house
  • the garage was blown down in the storm
  • we had to rebuild the shed after the wind had blown it down

board

bɔː(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
to board a plane or ship means to get on it. When a plane is boarding, the passengers are getting on it
Verb
  • do not try and board the plane before you are told to
  • we boarded over an hour late
  • you’ll be able to board shortly
  • we’ll be boarding in 20 minutes
  • Noun: boarding
  • boarding will start at 10:45
  • please wait in the lounge for the boarding announcement
  • a boarding pass (a document that shows you are entitled to get on a particular plane)

board

bɔː(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
the board of a company is the committee of directors who are in charge of it and make all the important decisions
Noun
  • be on the board
  • sit on the board
  • a board meeting
  • board members
  • the board decided it was time for him to go (leave the company)
  • he’s on the board of the bank
  • the idea was rejected by board members
  • two people have resigned from the board
  • she sits on the board of two private companies
  • Noun: boardroom
  • the meeting took place in the boardroom
  • a boardroom power struggle (a disagreement between members of a board)
  • public anger at the size of boardroom pay rises (pay rises for directors of companies)

boiler

ˈbɔɪlə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
a boiler is a device that burns coal, gas, or oil in order to provide heat and hot water for a building
Noun
  • the boiler has stopped working again
  • they can’t install a new boiler until next week
  • the boiler is in the cellar
  • a gas-fired boiler (one that burns gas)
  • the landlord still hasn’t replaced our boiler

bold

bəʊld
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
bold colours are very bright and catch your attention very quickly. In books and magazines, bold letters are slightly thicker and look darker than the other letters so that they catch your attention easily
Adjective
  • don't be scared to wear bold colours this season
  • headings should be in bold
  • in the autumn its leaves turn a bold red

bombing

ˈbɒmɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
a bombing is a crime in which someone leaves a bomb in a public place and allows it to explode
Noun
  • a bombing in the city centre
  • two men have been charged with the bombings
  • a bombing campaign
  • there’s been a wave of bombings in recent weeks
  • it was believed to be a suicide bombing (a bombing in which the criminals kill themselves as well as other people)
  • Noun: bomber
  • on June 13, suicide bombers attacked the central bank
  • it was an easy target for any gunman or bomber

bond

bɒnd
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
if people bond, they develop an ability to work or live together based on trust and respect and friendship
Verb
  • bond with someone
  • the team has bonded together well
  • she found it easy to bond with her students
  • I met her when I went to college and we bonded immediately
  • Noun: bond
  • a close/strong/deep bond
  • create/develop/form a bond
  • strengthen a bond
  • there’s a deep bond between us
  • an emotional bond between the two survivors
  • the ability of mother and daughter to form a bond with each other
  • We spent long hours in the labs, but this only strengthened the bonds between fellow classmates

bond

bɒnd
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
if there is a bond between people, they have developed an ability to work or live together based on trust and respect and friendship
Noun
  • a close/strong/deep bond
  • create/develop/form a bond
  • strengthen a bond
  • there’s a deep bond between us
  • an emotional bond between the two survivors
  • the ability of mother and daughter to form a bond with each other
  • We spent long hours in the labs, but this only strengthened the bonds between fellow classmates
  • Verb: bond
  • bond with someone
  • the team has bonded together well
  • she found it easy to bond with her students
  • I met her when I went to college and we bonded immediately

bonfire

ˈbɒnˌfaɪə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
a bonfire is a big fire outdoors, either in order to burn rubbish or as part of a celebration. In Britain, Bonfire Night is on November 5th, when people have bonfires and let off fireworks to remember the day when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605
Noun
  • we’re making a bonfire
  • throw some more wood on the bonfire
  • the bonfire didn’t go out till the morning
  • luckily, the rain came too late to spoil the bonfire

boom

buːm
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
a boom is a period when a country’s economy is very successful and when there is a lot of business activity. When this is happening, you can say that the economy is booming
Verb
  • the area was already starting to boom
  • the economy was booming
  • business is booming at the moment
  • Adjective: booming
  • Noun: boom
  • a booming economy
  • solar power is a booming industry
  • the city is undergoing an economic boom
  • the building boom of the 1990s
  • a boom in house prices

boost

buːst
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
to boost something means to improve it or increase it.
Verb
  • their policies have boosted our reputation
  • this could help to boost profits
  • an attempt to boost tourism in the area
  • this win has boosted the team’s confidence
  • the hot weather dramatically boosted demand for cold drinks
  • Noun: boost
  • give something a boost
  • this should provide a boost for the economy
  • a boost for her confidence
  • some tips on how to give your Facebook profile a much needed boost

booth

buːð
Upper Intermediate
pp88-89
a booth is an area in a restaurant, bar, or club which has sides on it so that you can have some privacy from the other people there
Noun
  • eight of us tried to squeeze into a booth for six
  • we could hear what the people in the next booth were saying
  • there were four karaoke booths upstairs

bore

bɔː(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
if you refer to someone as a bore, you mean that they talk in a very dull and uninteresting way
Noun
  • a terrible/crashing bore
  • don’t be such a bore
  • you’re becoming a terrible bore, Boris
  • a reputation for being something of a bore
  • his uncle was a crashing bore (extremely boring)
  • Adjective: boring
  • Verb: bore
  • Adjective: bored
  • Noun: boredom
  • excruciatingly/incredibly boring
  • be bored stiff/rigid
  • sheer boredom
  • such a boring meeting
  • am I boring you?
  • I was bored stiff (extremely bored)
  • if you’re bored indoors, why don’t you go outside and play?
  • the film was two hours of sheer boredom
  • the scenery was flat, with not even any trees to relieve the boredom

bore

bɔː(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
if you refer to someone as a bore, you mean that they talk in a very dull and uninteresting way
Noun
  • a terrible/crashing bore
  • don’t be such a bore
  • you’re becoming a terrible bore, Boris
  • a reputation for being something of a bore
  • his uncle was a crashing bore (extremely boring)
  • Adjective: boring
  • Verb: bore
  • Adjective: bored
  • Noun: boredom
  • excruciatingly/incredibly boring
  • be bored stiff/rigid
  • sheer boredom
  • such a boring meeting
  • am I boring you?
  • I was bored stiff (extremely bored)
  • if you’re bored indoors, why don’t you go outside and play?
  • the film was two hours of sheer boredom
  • the scenery was flat, with not even any trees to relieve the boredom

boredom

ˈbɔː(r)dəm
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
boredom is the state of being bored
Noun uncount
  • sheer boredom
  • relieve the boredom
  • they end up committing crime simply out of boredom
  • the film was two hours of sheer boredom
  • the scenery was flat, with not even any trees to relieve the boredom
  • put toys in your rabbit's cage to prevent boredom
  • Verb: bore
  • Adjective: boring
  • Adjective: bored
  • Noun: bore
  • am I boring you?
  • such a boring meeting
  • I was bored stiff (extremely bored)
  • if you’re bored indoors, why don’t you go outside and play?
  • don’t be such a bore
  • you’re becoming a terrible bore, Boris

bother

ˈbɒðə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
if something bothers you, you you worry about it a lot and you don’t like it
Verb
  • be bothered about/by something
  • it never bothered me that I couldn’t cook
  • many residents were bothered by the constant noise
  • he’s always rude to people he doesn’t know. Don’t let it bother you
  • Adjective: bothered
  • bothered about something
  • he doesn’t seem bothered about not having a car

bother

ˈbɒðə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
if you don’t bother to do something, you deliberately do not do it because you do not think it is worth spending any effort on it
Verb
  • not bother to do something
  • not bother doing something
  • not bother with/about something
  • he decided not to bother graduating
  • I didn’t even bother to open it
  • a lot of people didn’t bother voting
  • you don’t need to bother with changing the sheets

bottom

ˈbɒtəm
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
the bottom of an organization is the lowest level in it, where the work requires the least amount of experience or skill and the pay is the lowest
Noun
  • start at the bottom
  • our CEO started at the bottom 30 years ago
  • Antonym: top
  • He worked his way up to the top in just 12 years.

bounce

baʊns
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
if something bounces, it hits a surface and then goes back up in the direction it came from
Verb
  • hailstones started bouncing off the car
  • the ball bounced off the edge of the table
  • the cup fell and bounced twice on the floor, but it didn’t break

bound

baʊnd
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
if something is bound to happen, it is certain to happen as a natural result of the present situation
Adjective
  • the couple are bound to get together
  • a healthy lifestyle is bound to help
  • I suppose it was bound to happen
  • the speech was bound to annoy the liberals

boundary

ˈbaʊnd(ə)ri
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
the boundary of a physical area is the edge, where one area stops and another starts. A boundary is also the point at which one thing starts to become another
Noun
  • a boundary between things
  • the remains of the 14th-century wall mark the old city boundary
  • the boundary between life and death
  • the boundaries betwen public and private life
  • a clear boundary between reality and fantasy

boundary

ˈbaʊnd(ə)ri
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
if you set boundaries on behaviour, you explain what is acceptable and what is not acceptable so that people know what they can and cannot do
Noun
  • set boundaries
  • cross/overstep the boundary
  • it’s a good idea to set children boundaries
  • give them strict boundaries
  • I knew I’d overstepped the boundary
  • I’ve always kept within the boundaries
  • teenagers like to cross the boundaries

branch

brɑːntʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
a branch is a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk
Noun
  • a bird can only sit on one branch
  • the topmost branch of the tree (the highest one)
  • we cut off some of the overhanging branches
  • a dead branch had blown off the tree

bravery

ˈbreɪvəri
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
bravery is the quality and behaviour involved in being brave
Noun uncount
  • show/display bravery
  • bullfighting is full of drama, risk and bravery
  • he was awarded a medal for exceptional bravery
  • George displayed great bravery
  • they have shown extraordinary bravery and determination
  • Adjective: brave
  • Adverb: bravely
  • fight/battle/struggle bravely
  • it was an incredibly brave thing to do
  • the bravest man I ever knew
  • your father was killed fighting bravely against the enemy
  • he fell bravely defending his country

break

breɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp88-89
a break is a short holiday when you go away somewhere
Noun
  • go on a break
  • have a break
  • a weekend/short break
  • a city break
  • we went on a weekend break to Paris
  • special offer short breaks available if you book today
  • I can’t afford a break, even in Manchester

break

breɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
when you are at work, a break is a time when you stop working and relax for a short while before starting to work again
Noun
  • a lunch/tea/coffee break
  • a mid-morning break
  • a short/long break
  • take a break at 10
  • I worked from 8 till 4 without a break
  • that was a long break

break even

ˌbreɪk ˈiːv(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
if a business breaks even, it receives about the same amount of money as it spends, so it makes no profit and no loss
Phrasal verb
  • before too long, we broke even
  • the airline is expected to break even next year
  • after four years in business, they still haven’t broken even
  • how much revenue do you need to break even?
  • Noun: breakeven
  • breakeven is when total revenue equals total costs
  • I’ll be glad when we reach a breakeven point

break into

ˌbreɪk ˈɪntuː
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
to break into a place means to enter it using force, usually in order to steal something
Phrasal verb
  • the house was broken into while we were away
  • someone broke into my car and stole my radio
  • I lost my keys and had to break into my own flat
  • Noun: break-in
  • a series of break-ins in the area
  • there is a break-in every 60 seconds in the UK

break up

ˈbreɪk ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
if someone breaks up a party, a meeting, or a demonstration, they make everyone leave because there has been violence or wild behaviour. If a party, meeting, or demonstration breaks up, it comes to an end and everyone goes away
Phrasal verb
  • once the demonstration turned violent, the police moved in to break it up
  • trying to break up the fight
  • the meeting broke up at four o’clock
  • the party finally broke up at midnight

breakdown

ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
if there is a breakdown, a process, relationship, or machine stops working properly
Noun
  • the problem of family breakdown
  • a breakdown in communication
  • we had a breakdown on the motorway (the car stopped working)
  • during his childhood he had three nervous breakdowns (incidents when he suffered serious mental depression)
  • we try not to tell passengers about mechanical breakdowns
  • Phrasal verb: break down
  • the car’s always breaking down
  • his marriage broke down last year

breath

breθˌ
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
your breath is how quickly you are breathing in and out
Noun
  • be out of breath
  • be short of breath
  • get your breath back
  • it took me ten minutes to get my breath back (start breathing easily after exercise)
  • she gets out of breath just walking up the stairs (has difficulty breathing)
  • he sometimes gets short of breath (unable to breathe easily)
  • I was gasping for breath by the time I reached the top (I was breathing very fast)
  • Verb: breathe
  • Adjective: breathless
  • breathe heavily
  • breathe easily
  • breathe deeply
  • I was breathing more and more heavily
  • as nightfall approached he was barely breathing
  • Lucien breathed deeply and closed his eyes
  • he was breathless from running so fast
  • she was quite breathless, and thought she was going to faint

breeder

ˈbriːdə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
a breeder is someone who keeps animals and produces and sells young animals
Noun
  • bull breeders were finding it hard to make a profit
  • a successful animal breeder
  • a dog breeder
  • horse breeders
  • he came from a rich family of cattle breeders
  • Verb: breed
  • Noun: breed
  • they breed cattle on the farm
  • a very popular breed of dog (particular type of dog)

bride

braɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
at a wedding, the bride is the woman who is getting married
Noun
  • a photo of the bride and groom
  • the bride arrived at the door of the church with her father
  • the best man proposed a toast to the bride
  • the bride’s mother looked so proud
  • Adjective: bridal
  • bridal wear
  • a bridal gown
  • she started the dancing still in her bridal gown
  • the bridal car arrived perfectly on time

bring on

ˈbrɪŋ ˌɒn
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
if something brings on something bad or unwanted, it causes it or makes it start happening. If you say that someone brought it on himself or brought it on herself, you mean that it was their own fault that something bad happened to them
Phrasal verb
  • be brought on by something
  • I get really bad headaches, and eating fish usually brings one on
  • it may have been brought on by an allergy
  • and what brought on that fit of anger?
  • he brought it on himself so he won’t get any sympathy from me

bruise

bruːz
Upper Intermediate
pp48-49
a bruise is a dark mark on your skin where you have hit it
Noun
  • he had some cuts and bruises
  • a nasty bruise on his face
  • she only suffered a few minor bruises
  • a dark bruise on one cheek
  • my leg was badly bruised
  • Verb: bruise
  • Noun: bruising
  • I bruise quite easily (even a gentle knock will give me a bruise)
  • Curry bruised his ribs during training
  • he suffered a broken nose and bruising
  • the bruising was caused by kicks to the face

bucket

ˈbʌkɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp26-27
a bucket is a container with a handle and an open top that you use for carrying water. The amount that a bucket can contain is a bucketful
Noun
  • a bucket of water
  • a plastic bucket
  • as a joke, she threw a bucket of water over me
  • the bucket contained a sponge as well as warm soapy water
  • Noun: bucketful
  • she pulled a bucketful of water from the well

budget

ˈbʌdʒɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
your budget is the amount of money you can spend without getting into trouble. If you manage your budget well, you make sure you know how much you have and how much you can afford to spend on your regular living costs
Noun
  • an annual/monthly/weekly budget
  • a tight budget
  • a fixed/limited budget
  • he’s never learned how to manage a budget
  • they worked out their monthly budget to the last euro
  • he made the film on a very tight budget (with no money to spare)
  • we do what we can with a very limited budget
  • prices to suit every budget (for people with very little money as well as people with a lot of money)
  • we have a weekly budget of £50 for food
  • Verb: budget
  • Adjective: budgetary
  • budget for something
  • we didn’t budget for a new washing machine
  • we are budgeting for 10% sales growth next year
  • we need better budgetary control

bully

ˈbʊli
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
to bully someone means to treat them very badly because they are not strong enough to be able to fight back
Verb
  • he was often bullied at school
  • he used to bully his little brother
  • he often bullies colleagues if he thinks they are too weak to respond
  • soon, other kids were bullying her both online and in person
  • Noun: bully
  • Noun: bullying
  • we all avoided Mark, the school bully
  • kids can be bullies or victims – and sometimes both
  • this bullying behaviour needs to stop
  • everyone was worried about bullying in the factory

bump

bʌmp
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
if you bump into something, you knock against it accidentally. If you bump a part of your body, it accidentally knocks against something
Verb
  • I’m always tripping over and bumping into things
  • I bumped my knee on the table
  • mind you don’t bump your head
  • I fell down and bumped my nose
  • Noun: bump
  • I got a bump on the head
  • you’ll pick up bumps and bruises playing rugby

bumpy

ˈbʌmpi
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
a bumpy surface is very uneven and has a lot of raised parts on it. A bumpy ride is uncomfortable because the car or plane you are in is bouncing up and down a lot
Adjective
  • a bumpy road/track
  • a bumpy ride/drive/journey
  • after a very bumpy ride, they arrived at the farmhouse
  • the path was bumpy in places
  • the plane made a bumpy landing
  • a bumpy flight through a thunderstorm
  • Noun: bump
  • he braked too late and hit the bump at speed
  • the car rattled loudly as it went over the bumps in the road
  • a speed bump (a deliberately raised strip across a road which is meant to make drivers slow down)

bunch

bʌntʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp88-89
a bunch of people is a number of them who are all together
Noun
  • a bunch of friends/colleagues/mates/friends/kids
  • a bunch of us met up for a meal at the weekend
  • they’re a nice bunch of kids
  • he was hanging out near the station with a bunch of friends

bundle

ˈbʌnd(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
a bundle of things is a collection of them tied together loosely so that they can be carried together
Noun
  • tie something in a bundle
  • a bundle of something
  • they kept a small bundle of wood for themselves
  • a small bundle of laundry
  • a bundle of papers
  • tie the herbs into a bundle
  • Verb: bundle
  • he bundled up his papers and left the meeting
  • she bundled up her clothes and threw them in the washing machine

bureaucracy

bjʊəˈrɒkrəsi
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
a bureaucracy is a system of administration that involves a lot of employees. Bureaucracy is the set of rigid and complicated rules that are in force there
Noun
  • they tend not to perform well in bureaucracies
  • the aim was to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy
  • the health care system has a totally inefficient bureaucracy surrounding it
  • a centralised bureaucracy replaced the old system
  • government promises to cut bureaucracy
  • Noun: bureaucrat
  • Adjective: bureaucratic
  • state bureaucrats controlled even the smaller details of everyday life
  • he blamed the faceless bureaucrats who made the rules
  • a senior bureaucrat in the defence ministry
  • there were problems caused by bureaucratic inefficiency
  • a lengthy and exhaustive bureaucratic process
  • the current planning system is too centralised and bureaucratic

bureaucracy

bjʊəˈrɒkrəsi
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
a bureaucracy is a system of administration that involves a lot of employees. Bureaucracy is the set of rigid and complicated rules that are typical of such a system
Noun
  • there’s too much bureaucracy involved
  • they tend not to perform well in bureaucracies
  • the aim was to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy
  • the health care system has a totally inefficient bureaucracy surrounding it
  • a centralised bureaucracy replaced the old system
  • government promises to cut bureaucracy
  • Noun: bureaucrat
  • Noun: bureaucrat
  • Adjective: bureaucratic
  • state bureaucrats controlled even the smaller details of everyday life
  • he blamed the faceless bureaucrats who made the rules
  • a senior bureaucrat in the defence ministry
  • there were problems caused by bureaucratic inefficiency
  • a lengthy and exhaustive bureaucratic process
  • the current planning system is too centralised and bureaucratic

bureaucratic

ˌbjʊərəˈkrætɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
if a process is very bureaucratic, it involves a lot of rigid and complicated rules
Adjective
  • there were problems caused by bureaucratic inefficiency
  • a legal and bureaucratic nightmare
  • a lengthy and exhaustive bureaucratic process
  • the current planning system is too centralised and bureaucratic
  • Noun: bureaucrat
  • Noun: bureaucracy
  • state bureaucrats controlled even the smaller details of everyday life
  • he blamed the faceless bureaucrats who made the rules
  • a senior bureaucrat in the defence ministry
  • the aim was to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy
  • a centralised bureaucracy replaced the old system
  • government promises to cut bureaucracy

burglary

ˈbɜː(r)ɡləri
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
a burglary is a crime in which someone enters a building and steals something
Noun
  • commit a burglary
  • investigate a burglary
  • there have been a lot of burglaries in the area
  • an attempted burglary
  • when did the burglary take place?
  • Freddie was accused of committing a burglary on Oak Street
  • police are investigating a series of burglaries
  • Noun: burglar
  • Verb: burgle
  • the police have arrested two burglars
  • the burglars stole jewellery and electrical items
  • we got back and found the house had been burgled
  • they were accused of burgling two separate homes in Wilton Street

burst into

ˈbɜː(r)st ˌɪntə
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
if you burst into tears, laughter, or song, you suddenly start crying, laughing, or singing
Phrasal verb
  • burst into tears/laughter/song/applause
  • she kept bursting into tears
  • the child burst into uncontrollable sobs
  • the audience burst into wild applause

burst out

ˈbɜː(r)st ˌaʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
if you burst out laughing or crying, you suddenly start laughing or crying. You can also say that you burst into laughter or tears.
Phrasal verb
  • burst out laughing/crying/singing
  • Donna couldn’t help it – she just burst out laughing
  • she thought he was dead and burst out crying
  • she kept bursting into tears
  • he burst into loud laughter

bury

ˈberi
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
to bury someone means to put their body in the ground after they die
Verb
  • do you want to be buried or cremated?
  • she’s buried in the local cemetery
  • we buried him last week
  • she's dead and buried in a grave in Portree
  • his last words were "Bury me in my uniform"
  • Noun: burial
  • the burial will take place next Tuesday
  • remains of Roman burials have been discovered at the site

cab

kæb
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
a cab is a car which takes people where they want to go in exchange for a payment to the driver. People very often refer to cabs as taxis
Noun
  • a cab fare
  • a cab ride
  • take/get/hire a cab
  • order a cab
  • it was raining, so we took a cab
  • a twenty-minute cab ride
  • the cab fare was $33
  • let’s order a cab to get to the airport tomorrow

camp

kæmp
Upper Intermediate
pp52-53
if you camp somewhere, you stay there for a short time and sleep in a tent that you put up
Verb
  • we camped on the festival site
  • we didn’t have enough money for hotels so we camped
  • the farmer let us camp in one of his fields
  • Noun: camp
  • Noun: camping
  • pitch/set up camp
  • go camping
  • at nine o'clock we pitched camp (put up tents and made the camp ready)
  • they spent a pleasant evening around the camp fire
  • we used to go camping every weekend in the summer
  • he packed up the camping gear and put it in the car
  • I enjoy outdoor activities like fishing and camping

campaign

kæmˈpeɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
a campaign is a set of organised activities that are intended to achieve a particular result
Noun
  • a campaign against something
  • a campaign for something
  • an advertising/marketing campaign
  • an election campaign
  • a campaign against the new tourist development
  • an extensive public education campaign
  • the campaign aims to create jobs in the manufacturing sector
  • their latest advertising campaign was launched last year
  • the campaign was successful and management dropped the plan
  • the election campaign was limited to 90 days
  • Verb: campaign
  • Noun: campaigner
  • campaign against something
  • campaign for something
  • a protest group campaigned against the proposed reforms
  • campaigning for a change in the law
  • a campaigner for political freedom
  • local campaigners protested outside the factory

capital

ˈkæpɪt(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
capital is money that you invest or use to start a business
Noun uncount
  • we borrowed the rest of the capital we needed
  • the business was set up using foreign capital
  • we don’t have enough capital
  • they’ve sunk a lot of capital into the business
  • selling property to release capital
  • capital expenditure (money a company spends on things it is going to keep)

capture

ˈkæptʃə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
to capture something on film means to successfully record it
Verb
  • the attack was captured on CCTV
  • it was all captured on film
  • a passer-by captured the moment on his mobile

carry out

ˈkæri aʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
to carry out a task or a piece of work means to do everything that is involved in that particular task or piece of work
Phrasal verb
  • the work will be carried out by a British firm
  • we need to carry out more research
  • the police will carry out an investigation
  • they carried out a survey

case study

ˈkeɪs ˌstʌdi
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
a case study is a detailed examination of the development of a particular person, group, or situation over a period of time. Case studies are often done in order to be able to make general statements about a whole class of people or things, not just the ones that have been studied
Noun
  • case studies of patients with severe heart failure
  • the analysis is based on seven case studies covering 11 countries
  • the next two chapters present the case studies
  • this case study illustrates a number of points

cash flow

ˈkæʃ fləʊ
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
cash flow is the money that comes into a company as income and goes out on wages, materials, and other costs
Noun
  • healthy cash flow
  • positive/negative cash flow
  • the company had awful cash flow problems
  • a negative cash flow sometimes occurs at the end of a product's life cycle
  • the department responsible for monitoring cash flow

cash point

ˈkæʃˌpɔɪnt
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
a cash point is a machine, usually in the outside wall of a bank or other building, which lets people take money from their bank accounts by using their bank card
Noun
  • a cash point machine
  • have you ever had problems using a cash point abroad?
  • there’s a cash point outside the supermarket
  • the cash point was out of order

casually

ˈkæʒuəli
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
if people dress casually, they wear comfortable clothes that are suitable for informal occasions
Adverb
  • dress casually
  • casually dressed
  • he was casually dressed in trainers, jeans and a sweatshirt
  • more and more employees are dressing casually for work
  • Adjective: casual
  • casual wear/clothes/clothing/style
  • we stock casual clothing for all the family
  • her designs tend towards a casual style
  • smart casual wear is acceptable in the club

catch

kætʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp128-129
a catch is a difficulty or problem that is not very obvious
Noun
  • there’s just one catch
  • it sounds brilliant – so what’s the catch?
  • there must be a catch
  • the catch is that you have to pay the whole cost within 48 hours

catch out

ˈkætʃ ˌaʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
if you get caught out by something, you get into a difficult situation because you were not able to stop it developing
Phrasal verb
  • be/get caught out by something
  • investors risk getting caught out by another recession
  • be careful on the beach; the tide comes in very fast and it can catch you out

catchy

ˈkætʃi
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
a catchy tune, slogan, phrase etc. is one that is very easy to remember
Adjective
  • it’s an easy tune to remember – so catchy
  • a great song with a catchy chorus
  • a catchy slogan

categorically

ˌkætəˈɡɒrɪkli
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
if you say something categorically, you say it very firmly and definitely
Adverb
  • categorically deny/reject/refuse something
  • categorically state something
  • the firm categorically denied any involvement in the scandal
  • he categorically refused to let me speak to her
  • we want to state categorically our opposition to the plan
  • drivers are categorically prohibited from using phones while driving
  • Adjective: categorical
  • a categorical assurance that taxes would not be increased
  • Klein issued a categorical denial of all the accusationss

causal

ˈkɔːz(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
if there is a causal link or relationship between two things, one of them is the cause of the other one
Adjective
  • proving causal links is always difficult
  • there is a causal relationship between diet and health
  • a causal explanation is one that explains the action
  • it's often the case that a specific causal factor cannot be identified
  • Noun: cause
  • Verb: cause
  • the cause of something
  • heart attacks are a common cause of death
  • heavy rain was the probable cause
  • the fire caused extensive damage to the restaurant
  • avoid any movement that causes you pain

caution

ˈkɔːʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
caution is behaviour that deliberately tries to avoid any danger or problems
Noun uncount
  • advise caution
  • great/extreme caution
  • do something with caution
  • exercise caution
  • the animals should be approached with great caution
  • caution is advised when driving in snow
  • always exercise extreme caution when catching snakes
  • a few words of caution (advice to exercise caution)
  • Adjective: cautious
  • Adverb: cautiously
  • he’s very cautious
  • a cautious driver
  • she’s cautious about investing such a large sum
  • the police decided to adopt a cautious approach
  • she held out her hand cautiously

cell

sel
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
a cell is a room in a prison where prisoners are kept locked in
Noun
  • prisoners are locked in their cells 22 hours a day
  • they were three to a cell (three prisoners lived in each cell)
  • the cell measured seven feet by five feet
  • each cell has a table, a chair and a bed

centrally

ˈsentrəli
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
if something is controlled or managed centrally, all its different parts are operated from one place
Adverb
  • the air-conditioning is controlled centrally
  • 50% of the country's economy is centrally planned
  • a centrally administered network of libraries
  • Adjective: central
  • Noun: centre
  • orders were handed down from the central committee
  • we get no funding from central government
  • the regional administrative centre

chain

tʃeɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
on a bicycle, the chain is the set of linked metal rings which connect the pedals to the back wheel and help make the bicycle move
Noun
  • a bike chain
  • my chain came off twice on the way home
  • an oily chain

challenge

ˈtʃæləndʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
a challenge is a problem that you face, which will need a lot of effort and determination for you to succeed in defeating it
Noun
  • overcome a challenge
  • tackle a challenge
  • a serious/tough/major challenge
  • face a challenge
  • the monster presents a serious challenge
  • I had great support that helped me overcome these challenges
  • once we win that battle, we can tackle the next challenge
  • the company was facing a very specific challenge
  • Verb: challenge
  • Adjective: challenging
  • none of these statements were challenged by the police
  • films that challenge the viewer
  • the course will be challenging, but worthwhile
  • yoga can be a physically challenging activity

charity event

ˈtʃærəti ɪˌvent
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
a charity event is an occasion such as a dinner, a party, or a sports event which people pay to attend, often because there are famous people taking part. The purpose of charity events is to raise money for a charity
Noun
  • a series of charity events including a football match and a celebrity golf tournament
  • they raised over £40,000 through the two charity events

chart

tʃɑː(r)t
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
a chart is a drawing or diagram or a set of figures that represents information in a way that is meant to be clear and easy to understand
Noun
  • a bar chart
  • a pie chart
  • a flow chart
  • an astrological chart
  • the priest consulted an astrological chart to help choose the name (a chart that shows the position of the stars in the sky at a certain time)
  • the most common statistical charts are bar charts (charts in which the heights of vertical bars provide the information)
  • draw a pie chart for your household budget (a chart in which a circle is divided into sections to represent different quantities)

chase up

ˈtʃeɪs ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp142-143
if you chase something or someone up, you find out if something has happened or been done yet, and if it hasn’t you tell someone to do it
Phrasal verb
  • I’m phoning to chase up an order
  • I’ll chase up the sales department
  • can you chase John up about this?
  • they’re chasing up all their debts

chat up

ˈtʃæt ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
to chat someone up means to talk to them in a very friendly way because you want to start a romantic relationship with them. A chat-up line is something someone says in order to start a conversation like this
Phrasal verb
  • he kept trying to chat me up
  • he spent the evening chatting her up
  • we got chatted up by a couple of waiters
  • what’s the most successful chat-up line you’ve ever used?

cheat

tʃiːt
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
to cheat means to do something that is not allowed by the rules
Noun
  • if everyone starts cheating the game will fall apart
  • I’m sure Dan cheated in the exam
  • cover your eyes and count to ten, and don’t cheat!
  • students who cheat know it's wrong
  • Noun: cheat
  • Noun: cheating
  • I’m not playing any more. You’re such a cheat!
  • cheats never prosper (people who don’t follow the rules will never be successful)
  • there was a lot of cheating involved
  • online cheating has become more difficult

chest

tʃest
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
your chest is the front part of your body between your neck and your stomach
Noun
  • chest pain
  • a chest infection
  • a hairy chest
  • taking medicine for a throat and chest infection
  • he complained of a tight chest (finding it difficult to breathe easily)
  • a chest X-ray
  • he punched the policeman in the chest and ran off
  • Adjective: chesty
  • a chesty cough
  • I’m feeling a bit chesty (my chest feels unwell and it's uncomfortable when I breathe)

chronic

ˈkrɒnɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
a chronic medical condition is one that is serious and lasts a long time without getting any better
Adjective
  • a chronic disease/illness/condition
  • chronic pain
  • stress can be a factor in the development of chronic illness
  • chronic indigestion
  • chronic back pain
  • a chronic kidney condition
  • Adverb: chronically
  • chronically sick/ill
  • the needs of chronically sick children
  • help for the chronically disabled
  • chronically ill patients

chuck

tʃʌk
Upper Intermediate
pp136-137
if you chuck something somewhere, you throw it there carelessly
Verb
  • chuck something off something
  • chuck something out of something
  • chuck something on/in/into something
  • he chucked it in the bin
  • think before you chuck things in the garbage
  • chuck another log on the fire, will you?
  • I saw him chuck something off the bridge
  • don’t chuck it out of the window!
  • just chuck it in the boot

chuckle

ˈtʃʌk(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
to chuckle means to laugh quietly
Verb
  • chuckle about/at something
  • the old man chuckled
  • she chuckled softly
  • he was still chuckling about it
  • I chuckled to myself
  • he was chuckling at the thought of how annoyed they’d be with him
  • Noun: chuckle
  • we had a little chuckle about it afterwards

circle

ˈsɜː(r)k(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
a circle of people is a number of them who are linked in some way because they are friends or because they have similar jobs
Noun
  • a wide circle of friends and acquaintances
  • he was well known in certain circles
  • the magazine was very unpopular in government circles
  • a very small circle of advisers

cite

saɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
to cite something means to state that it is an example or a cause of what you are talking about
Verb
  • cite something as something
  • public speaking is often cited as the one thing most people are afraid of
  • several other factors were cited as causes for social breakdown
  • she cited personal reasons for leaving the company
  • he cited the need to return to France as a reason for his resignation

civilised

ˈsɪvəˌlaɪzd
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
people or places that are civilised show culture and good standards of behaviour because they belong to an advanced and well developed society
Adjective
  • the true sign of a civilised country is the way it treats its animals
  • a highly civilised society
  • it all seemed very civilised
  • let’s talk about this in a civilised way
  • he noted a decline in civilised behaviour
  • without these rules civilised life would be impossible
  • Noun: civilisation
  • Antonym -- Adjective: uncivilised
  • modern civilisation is built upon cooperation
  • Europe was home to some of the world's most advanced civilisations
  • the new law was described as backward and uncivilised
  • rather uncivilised behaviour

claim

kleɪm
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
a claim is a statement that someone makes which they say is true, but which some people believe is not true. A claim is also a demand for something that someone thinks they have a right to
Noun
  • her claim is entirely false
  • the judge dismissed his claim
  • officials have promised to investigate the claims
  • the court upheld her claim and awarded her compensation
  • Verb: claim
  • Noun: claimant
  • Grant unsuccessfully claimed damages from MacDonald
  • he also claimed that his laptop had been stolen
  • the claimant can request a private hearing
  • both claimants are entitled to compensation

claim

kleɪm
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
if you claim something such as money , you try and get it because you believe you have a right to it. If you claim back some money, you ask for the money to be returned to you because it was taken from you illegally or by someone who did not provide the goods or services they promised
Verb
  • claim something back
  • claim on something
  • I was able to claim it all back on the insurance
  • if you do not receive the goods in 30 days you can claim your money back
  • I paid for the meal, but I’ll claim it back from work
  • she claimed compensation of $10,000
  • Noun: claim
  • Noun: claimant
  • you need to make a claim within 10 days
  • the government still ended up paying claimants a total of $90 million

clash

klæʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
when people clash, they fight or argue very strongly with each other
Verb
  • clash with someone
  • protestors clashed with government forces in the city centre
  • violence occurred when police and demonstrators clashed
  • on Thursday afternoon the two groups clashed again
  • Noun: clash
  • a violent clash
  • the police fired 50 plastic bullets during the clashes
  • violent clashes between rioters and the police
  • in other clashes yesterday 27 people were injured

cling

klɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
to cling to something means to hold onto it tightly
Verb
  • he was clinging onto the enormous rope
  • I clung to the edge of my seat
  • he clung on to my hand
  • I clung tightly to the papers
  • we clung together

clip

klɪp
Upper Intermediate
pp26-27
a clip is a small piece of metal or plastic that holds something in position
Noun
  • have you got a clip to keep these papers together?
  • a paper clip
  • a bulldog clip (a large clip for holding a lot of papers together)
  • she bought a new hair clip
  • Verb: clip
  • clip the papers together
  • the opened envelopes were clipped to the accompanying letters

close

kləʊs
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
if a game or match is close, the two players or teams are very equal
Adjective
  • it was a close game, which we drew 2-2
  • a close match that could have gone either way
  • he came a close second
  • I think the election will be pretty close
  • after a close first half, Wales scored 20 points to win comfortably

co-ordinated

kəʊˈɔː(r)dɪneɪtɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
something that is co-ordinated is organised in such a way that all the different people or parts should work well together
Adjective
  • well/badly co-ordinated
  • a well-co-ordinated research programme
  • their activities are not centrally co-ordinated
  • the rescue operation was slow and badly co-ordinated
  • Verb: co-ordinate
  • Noun: co-ordination
  • we need to co-ordinate our efforts if we’re to finish by June
  • the chairman’s role is to co-ordinate the activities of the committee members
  • regional co-ordination of our economic policies
  • a lack of co-ordination between head office and the branches

coffin

ˈkɒfɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
a coffin is a box that is used for the body of a dead person, in which they are either buried or cremated
Noun
  • his body was displayed in the coffin
  • her four sons carried the coffin into the church
  • his remains lay in a wooden coffin
  • the coffin was lowered into the grave
  • archaeologists uncovered a stone coffin from 2,000 years ago

combination

ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
a combination of things is a number of different things all mixed together
Noun
  • there’s a combination of reasons for the decision
  • the doctor recommended a combination of drugs for her condition
  • a rare combination of elegance, comfort, and beauty
  • Verb: combine
  • different methods may be combined together to get the best results
  • a busy city which successfully combines the ancient and the modern

combine

kəmˈbaɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
if you combine two activities, you take the opportunity to do them both at the same time
Verb
  • we combined the conference trip with a weekend in Florence
  • combine business with pleasure
  • she combined the roles of soloist and conductor in a performance of the violin concerto
  • Adjective: combined
  • a combined business trip and weekend break

come across

kʌm əˈkrɒs
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
if you come across something or someone, you see them or meet them without having intended to
Phrasal verb
  • she came across a story about a farmer
  • I came across the film “Ratatouille”
  • she came across him while researching her family history
  • I started looking online and came across your site
  • I came across this recipe a few years ago
  • I’d never come across anyone else with the same family name as me before

come across

ˈkʌm əkrɒs
Upper Intermediate
pp136-137
if you come across something or someone, you see them or meet them without having intended to
Phrasal verb
  • I came across the film “Ratatouille”
  • she came across him while researching her family history
  • I started looking online and came across your site
  • I came across this recipe a few years ago
  • I’d never come across anyone else with the same family name as me before

come across

kʌm əˈkrɒs
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
if someone comes across in a particular way, that is the impression you have of them
Phrasal verb
  • come across as something
  • she comes across as so pleasant
  • Dan came across very poorly in the interview (he made a bad impression)
  • he came across as a man of warmth and charm
  • the second candidate came across much better

come across

kʌm əˈkrɒs
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
if someone comes across in a particular way, that is the impression you have of them
Phrasal verb
  • come across as something
  • he comes across as being very reasonable
  • she comes across as so pleasant
  • Dan came across very poorly in the interview (he made a bad impression)
  • he came across as a man of warmth and charm
  • the second candidate came across much better

come off

ˈkʌm ˌɒf
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
if you say that a car came off the motorway, you mean that it moved onto the special road for traffic that wants to leave the motorway. You say that a car came off the road if the driver lost control and the car went onto the pavement or side of the road
Phrasal verb
  • you need to come off the motorway at junction 10
  • two people were killed when their car came off the road near Dorchester
  • the roads were so icy we were lucky we didn’t come off the road

come off

ˈkʌm ˌɒf
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
if something comes off, it becomes separated from the object it is meant to be attached to
Phrasal verb
  • the strap has come off my watch
  • the door handle came off as soon as I tried to turn it
  • the paint was coming off the walls
  • the label had come off the bottle

come off

ˈkʌm ˌɒf
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
when you come off a motorway, you move onto the special road for traffic that wants to leave the motorway. You say that a car came off the road if the driver lost control and the car went onto the pavement or side of the road
Verb
  • we had to come off the motorway and wait for the fog to lift
  • you need to come off the motorway at junction 10
  • two people were killed when their car came off the road near Dorchester
  • the roads were so icy we were lucky we didn’t come off the road

come to light

ˌkʌm tə ˈlaɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
if something comes to light, it becomes known about after being secret or unknown for a long time
Phrase
  • the scam only came to light by chance
  • other little facts came to light one by one
  • the missing reports came to light last Thursday
  • I will keep you updated as further information comes to light

come up

ˌkʌm ˈʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
to come up to someone means to come towards them
Phrasal verb
  • he came up to me and grabbed my bag
  • a girl came up and started talking to me
  • a man came up to me and asked me for money

come up with

kʌm ˈʌp wɪð
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
if you come up with an idea, answer, or solution, you think of it
Phrasal verb
  • they came up with a mobile phone solution
  • everyone was coming up with great ideas
  • I came up with the same result
  • three sisters came up with three different answers
  • he came up with an alternative plan

commander

kəˈmɑːndə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
a commander is an officer in charge of a group of soldiers or of a military operation
Noun
  • James Bond was a navy commander
  • a tank commander in the British army
  • an air force commander
  • the commander ordered his men to fire
  • the Dutch commander refused to surrender
  • the president held a meeting with top military commanders
  • Verb: command
  • each regiment was commanded by a colonel
  • the three generals commanded a force of nearly 110,000 men

commercial

kəˈmɜː(r)ʃ(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
commerce is business. If something is commercial it is related to business or making money. When you say music or a film is commercial, you're suggesting that it isn't very good because it was only made in order to make money and quality was not a major consideration
Adjective
  • a commercial TV channel (run as a business, not paid for by a government)
  • the film had good reviews but wasn't a commercial success (people thought it was good, but it didn’t make money)
  • a commercial product
  • the property is not for commercial use
  • Adverb: commercially
  • the film was a flop commercially
  • the restaurant isn't commercially viable (able to make a profit)

commission

kəˈmɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
commission is an extra amount of money that you pay to an organisation when you use a service that it provides
Noun
  • charge commission
  • take commission
  • pay commission
  • on commission
  • they charge a small commission to change money
  • there’s 2% commission on all transactions
  • they charge 5% commission
  • had to pay £25 in commission
  • a fixed commission
  • he sells garden sheds on commission (he is paid according to how many sheds he sells, not a regular salary)

commute

kəˈmjuːt
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
to commute means to travel regularly to and from the place where you work every day
Verb
  • commute to/from somewhere
  • commute between places
  • they were commuting between London and Cambridge
  • I live in Cambridge and commute to London
  • aren’t you fed up with commuting every day
  • it’s too far to commute from here to Cardiff
  • Noun: commute
  • Noun: commuter
  • a daily/morning/evening commute
  • the daily commute to work
  • how long is your commute?
  • angry commuters waited over an hour for the train to leave
  • the commuter service carries over two million passengers a month
  • the London commuter area

compensation

ˌkɒmpənˈseɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
compensation is money or goods that you are given because a person or organisation has done something bad to you
Noun uncount
  • compensation for something
  • in compensation
  • as compensation
  • demand/claim compensation
  • award someone compensation
  • they offered a gift as compensation
  • she is demanding compensation for the damage to her property
  • he was later awarded £10,000 in compensation
  • we were given just £20 as compensation
  • Verb: compensate
  • compensate someone for something
  • he was compensated for the loss of his left hand in the accident
  • he was ordered to compensate the victims of his actions

compete

kəmˈpiːt
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
to compete in a sport or competition means to take part in it and try to win
Verb
  • compete in something
  • compete for something
  • I started competing more seriously after I joined the fencing club
  • all four schools compete in the local championship
  • the chess team has competed at national level
  • competing for prize money of £50,000
  • six teams will compete this weekend’s event
  • in 2014, over 6,500 runners competed
  • Noun: competition
  • Noun: competitor
  • Adjective: competing
  • Adjective: competitive
  • the competition was open to teams from all over the country
  • he won the competition four years running
  • four competitors failed to finish the race
  • the event attracted 98 competitors last year
  • the eight competing teams are divided into two groups
  • he’s always so competitive on the tennis court

complete

kəmˈpliːt
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
if you complete something, you finish doing all of it
Verb
  • she completed the puzzle quickly
  • registration can be completed online
  • he left before the project was completed
  • I was asked to complete a three-page questionnaire
  • Harry has recently completed his A level course
  • Adjective: complete
  • Noun: completion
  • Antonym – Adjective: incomplete
  • most of my coursework is complete for this term
  • this is our complete price list
  • the projected completion date is late 2017
  • time allowed for completion of the exam is 2 hours
  • the ring road project was left incomplete
  • the lists are obviously incomplete

compromise

ˈkɒmprəmaɪz
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
compromise is the ability to accept a situation that is not perfect for you but which enables you to exist happily with other people. A compromise is a situation which you accept in which you do not have everything you want
Noun
  • make/reach/work out a compromise
  • the key to a successful marriage is friendship and compromise
  • we entered into the relationship in a spirit of compromise
  • the president showed no hint of compromise
  • I had to make some compromises
  • it seemed a sensible compromise
  • maybe we can work out a compromise
  • we finally reached a compromise
  • Verb: compromise
  • compromise on something
  • there may be some middle ground where you can compromise
  • she refused to compromise
  • can we compromise on the price?

conceal

kənˈsiːl
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
to conceal something means to hide it so that no one can see it
Verb
  • he decided to conceal himself inside the bundle
  • attempts to conceal the evidence
  • the drugs were concealed in a lorry carrying cosmetics
  • she knew he was concealing something, but did not know what
  • Noun: concealment
  • Adjective: concealed
  • his place of concealment under the bed
  • she hid the fake passport in a concealed pocket
  • carrying concealed weapons

concern

kənˈsɜː(r)n
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
if something concerns you, it worries you
Verb
  • what concerns me is the fact that she’s stopped eating
  • it’s the highways budget that concerns me
  • only the lack of money seriously concerned her
  • Noun: concern
  • Adjective: concerned
  • Adjective: concerning
  • a cause for concern
  • express concern
  • give rise to concern
  • concerned about something/someone
  • concerned for something/someone
  • she expressed concern about the rising crime rate
  • his injury was a major cause of concern for the team
  • the test results gave rise to concern over the baby’s health
  • we’re very concerned about the rising costs
  • she was concerned for his safety
  • a very concerning issue

conduct

kənˈdʌkt
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
to conduct a process or activity means to do everything that is involved in that process or activity
Verb
  • the police are now conducting investigations
  • who will conduct the enquiry?
  • to conduct a survey of attitudes to climate change
  • these experiments were conducted over several years
  • the interviews were conducted between 1971 and 1974

confess

kənˈfes
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
if you confess to something wrong or illegal, you admit that you did it
Verb
  • confess to (doing) something
  • confess that
  • Walters confessed to the murder of his brother
  • she confessed to having taken the money
  • he confessed he’d been out late
  • Julia tearfully confessed that she'd been seeing Mike after work
  • I accused him straight out, and he confessed
  • Noun: confession
  • torture was used to extract confessions (make someone confess)
  • his confession came after a month of denial
  • he signed his confession and handed it back to the policeman

confirmation

ˌkɒnfə(r)ˈmeɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
a confirmation is a letter or email which states officially that something you reserved by phone will be kept for you
Noun
  • did you receive a confirmation by email or text?
  • a confirmation of the booking
  • a confirmation letter
  • the reservation confirmation must be presented when collecting the tickets
  • Verb: confirm
  • Adjective: confirmed
  • we will confirm the reservation in writing
  • I have a confirmed booking for 7:30 this evening

conflict

ˈkɒnflɪkt
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
conflict is violent fighting between groups of people or countries
Noun
  • armed conflict
  • provoke a conflict
  • in any armed conflict there will be civilian casualties
  • conflicts erupted in the 1850s, resulting in a number of wars
  • tensions increased and came close to provoking an international conflict
  • the territorial dispute could spark a violent conflict (could start a conflict)

confront

kənˈfrʌnt
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
if you confront a difficult situation, you make a strong effort to deal with it successfully. If you confront someone who is opposed to you, you deliberately approach them and show you are prepared to fight or argue with them
Verb
  • the hero confronts the monster for the first time
  • never confront a burglar alone if possible
  • riot police were confronted by angry protestors
  • we need to confront the problem more directly
  • next morning, she angrily confronted her boss about the decision
  • Noun: confrontation
  • Adjective: confrontational
  • a confrontation with someone
  • a confrontation betwee people
  • a confrontation between a motorist and a cyclist
  • violent confrontations with the police were common
  • you need to be less confrontational when dealing with strangers
  • the government had a confrontational relationship with the unions

confrontation

ˌkɒnfrʌnˈteɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
a confrontation is a situation when you have a serious disagreement with someone and argue about it with them
Noun
  • the boy refused. The teacher insisted. A confrontation developed
  • I kept silent and avoided direct confrontation
  • Batty had a serious confrontation with Byrne in the staff room
  • Verb: confront
  • Adjective: confrontational
  • when Mary confronted Alan, he admitted taking the photos
  • some of the people who confronted him later apologised
  • a less confrontational relationship
  • he always adopted a confrontational style

consciousness

ˈkɒnʃəsnəs
Upper Intermediate
pp48-49
if you lose consciousness, you uncontrollably fall asleep or become unconscious, for example if you faint or if you are hit very hard. When you regain consciousness, you wake up again
Noun uncount
  • lose consciousness
  • regain consciousness
  • she lost consciousness for a minute
  • he died three days later without regaining consciousness
  • when consciousness returned I was lying flat on my back in hospital
  • Adjective: conscious
  • Adjective: unconscious
  • he was fully conscious throughout the operation
  • he staggered backwards clutching the wound, but remained conscious
  • Lewis had been knocked unconscious before he drowned
  • he was severely beaten until he fell unconscious

contagious

kənˈteɪdʒəs
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
if an illness is contagious, it can spread from person to person through physical contact. You can also say that a feeling or attitude is contagious if you think it is spreading through a group of people
Adjective
  • a contagious disease/illness
  • highly/very contagious
  • it’s a relatively new disease and highly contagious
  • the prevention and treatment of contagious diseases
  • he was found to be contagious and had to stay in his room for several days (other people could catch the illness from him)
  • fear is contagious
  • his good humour was contagious
  • Noun: contagion
  • everything was burned for fear of contagion
  • aid agencies reacted swiftly to the threat of contagion

contaminated

kənˈtæmɪˌneɪtɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
something that is contaminated is no longer clean or pure because something has been added to it that is dirty or harmful
Adjective
  • the company has apologised for selling contaminated meat
  • drinking contaminated water can cause infection
  • a heavily contaminated field
  • you should obviously avoid contaminated food and water
  • the hole had been filled in with contaminated waste
  • Verb: contaminate
  • Noun: contamination
  • Antonym: uncontaminated
  • the water was contaminated with radioactive waste
  • they believed the factory had been contaminating the river
  • a report on ground contamination levels
  • no contamination was detected during the tests
  • the cause of the contamination remained under investigation
  • the need for access to uncontaminated drinking water

contemporary

kənˈtemp(ə)r(ə)ri
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
contemporary means modern
Adjective
  • both classic and contemporary plays
  • keeping up with contemporary developments
  • he gives lectures on contemporary music
  • the latest bestsellers in contemporary fiction
  • contemporary furniture design

contest

kənˈtest
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
to contest something means to say officially that you do not agree with it or think it is wrong
Verb
  • contest a will
  • the will is being contested
  • they plan to contest the decision
  • he contested the validity of the wedding ceremony

control

kənˈtrəʊl
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
if you control something or control how much someone can do something, you check and limit the amount or level of it
Verb
  • my parents control how much time I spend on Minecraft
  • he’s trying to control his diet
  • you should control how much you eat
  • it’s not possible for government to control the Internet
  • Noun: control
  • keep control of something
  • something is under control
  • the control of inflation
  • you need to keep control of your spending

control group

kənˈtrəʊl ˌɡruːp
Upper Intermediate
pp110-111
a control group is a set of people in an experiment who do not receive the medicine that is being tested, so that researchers can compare what happens to them with what happens to the people who do try the new medicine
Noun
  • the control group was constantly monitored throughout the three weeks
  • 80% had no further symptoms compared to 30% in the control group
  • the control group were given just flavoured water

controversial

ˌkɒntrəˈvɜː(r)ʃ(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
if something or someone is controversial, different people hold different views about them very strongly and cannot reach agreement
Adjective
  • highly/deeply controversial
  • a controversial subject/issue/topic
  • a controversial decision
  • a controversial remark/comment
  • the government has done a few controversial things
  • a highly controversial issue
  • a controversial politician
  • the referee made a number of controversial decisions
  • his controversial remarks were widely reported on radio and TV
  • Adverb: controversially
  • Noun: controversy
  • cause/provoke/arouse (a) controversy
  • the government controversially decided to withdraw its support for the project
  • controversially, there were no women in the new cabinet
  • the proposals have caused a lot of controversy
  • some recent controversies in the media
  • the proposal aroused a fierce controversy

conventional

kənˈvenʃ(ə)nəl
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
if something is conventional, it is done in the usual way and is not at all new or different
Adjective
  • a conventional portrait
  • a conventional novel
  • his ideas are all quite conventional
  • a conventional education
  • a highly conventional upbringing
  • the design was rather conventional
  • Adverb: conventionally
  • Antonym – Adjective: unconventional
  • she was brought up quite conventionally in Surrey
  • a conventionally trained artist
  • an unconventional approach to art
  • a rather unconventional teacher

conventional

kənˈvenʃ(ə)nəl
Upper Intermediate
pp84-85
things or ideas that are conventional are usual and normal, and not new or original
Adjective
  • conventional medicine
  • conventional method/means
  • conventional thinking
  • an illness that resisted conventional medical treatment
  • a challenge to conventional thinking
  • they can provide food cheaper than conventional supermarkets
  • they shook hands in the conventional way
  • Adjective: conventionally
  • she always dressed very conventionally
  • two fields were managed conventionally and two were managed organically
  • a conventionally designed house with the bedrooms on the first floor

convict

kənˈvɪkt
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
if someone is convicted of a crime, it is officially decided in a court that they are guilty of committing the crime
Verb
  • be convicted of something
  • be convicted to something
  • he was convicted of murder
  • he was convicted to a long jail sentence
  • seven of the men were convicted and the other two were released
  • Dreyfus was wrongly convicted and sent to jail
  • they were convicted and sentenced to death
  • Noun: conviction
  • Adjective: convicted
  • Noun: convict
  • his conviction was overturned (another court decided he should not have been convicted)
  • he’d had three previous convictions for burglary
  • there was not enough evidence to secure a conviction
  • a convicted criminal
  • two convicts escaped during the night

convict

kənˈvɪkt
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
if someone is convicted of a crime, a court decides that they really did it, and the judge tells them what their punishment will be
Verb
  • convict someone of something
  • convict someone for something
  • he was convicted of corruption
  • there wasn’t enough evidence for the jury to convict him
  • if convicted, she faces up to ten years in jail
  • wrongly convicted of murder
  • all the men had previously been convicted for violent crime
  • Noun: conviction
  • a criminal conviction
  • a previous conviction
  • secure a conviction
  • have (got) a conviction
  • he’s got three previous convictions for burglary
  • not enough evidence to secure a conviction (be sure of getting a conviction)

coordination

kəʊˌɔː(r)dɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
your coordination is how well you can move the different parts of your body together
Noun uncount
  • you need good hand-eye coordination to play tennis well
  • exercises designed to develop flexibility and improve coordination
  • Adjective: coordinated
  • Antonym – Adjective: uncoordinated
  • how coordinated are you?
  • I’m totally uncoordinated

cope

kəʊp
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if you cope, you manage to do what you have to do. If you can’t cope, you find it too difficult to do everything that you need to do
Verb
  • cope with something
  • I couldn’t cope with the workload
  • How do you cope with having two jobs?

cope

kəʊp
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
if you cope with something disappointing or unpleasant, you are able to carry on without it having a bad effect on you
Verb
  • cope with something
  • sport teaches us to cope with disappointment
  • she was good at coping with stress
  • I have trouble coping with the heat

copy in

ˈkɒpi ˌɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
to copy someone in on an email means to send it to them as well as to the person it is written to
Phrasal verb
  • copy someone in on/to something
  • when you reply to the client, copy me in, please
  • my manager wants to be copied in on all the team emails
  • I would be grateful if you would copy me in to any communication you have with them

correlation

ˌkɒrəˈleɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
if there is a correlation between two things, they are linked, often because one of them causes the other
Noun
  • a correlation between things
  • a strong/close/significant correlation
  • a well-established correlation between poor reading skills and crime
  • a strong correlation exists between smoking and lung disease
  • there isn't always a direct correlation between price and quality
  • investigators found no significant correlation
  • Verb: correlate
  • correlate with something
  • lack of water directly correlates with poverty
  • poor diet is strongly correlated with heart disease

corrupt

kəˈrʌpt
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
if someone is corrupt, they are prepared to do things that are morally wrong in order to get money or power. Their behaviour can also be referred to as corrupt
Adjective
  • morally corrupt
  • he seems to think that all politicians are corrupt
  • Dickens portrays the rich as being morally corrupt
  • officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices
  • a man of splendid abilities, but utterly corrupt
  • he was eventually sent to prison for his corrupt dealings
  • Verb: corrupt
  • Noun: corruption
  • Adjective: corruptible
  • Antonym – Adjective: incorruptible
  • there’s a famous saying: “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”
  • he was corrupted by the criminals he was mixing with
  • there has been widespread corruption in the banking sector
  • he was convicted on 41 counts of bribery, corruption and conspiracy
  • he was determined to expose police corruption
  • everyone is corruptible at a price
  • as a judge, he had to be incorruptible

costume

ˈkɒstjuːm
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
a costume is a special set of clothes that people wear for a particular occasion or event, such as a parade or street festival
Noun
  • we all dressed up in a costume for the parade
  • a national costume
  • she was wearing a very elaborate costume

counsellor

ˈkaʊns(ə)lə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
a counsellor is someone whose job is to listen to people who have problems and to help them find a way to solve those problems
Noun
  • a marriage counsellor
  • a debt counsellor
  • they went to a marriage counsellor, but it was too late
  • a visit from the bereavement counsellor (someone who helps people after the death of a very close relative)
  • a counsellor for people with AIDS
  • Noun: counselling
  • individual counselling sessions
  • I went to my tutor for support and counselling
  • money has been provided for student counselling services

countless

ˈkaʊntləs
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
if you talk about countless things or people, you mean there are a large number of them
Adjective
  • countless occasions/hours
  • countless number of times
  • countless millions
  • I saw the film countless times
  • a video seen by countless millions on YouTube
  • Verb: count
  • can you count up to ten in French?

courage

ˈkʌrɪdʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
courage is the quality of not being afraid even in difficult or dangerous situations
Noun uncount
  • show courage
  • summon/find/have the courage (to do something)
  • require/take courage
  • great/considerable courage
  • he fought the illness with great courage
  • we didn’t have the courage to go ahead with the plan
  • it took courage to jump from the second floor
  • she showed a tremendous amount of courage throughout the war
  • Adjective: courageous
  • Adverb: courageously
  • it was a courageous decision, but it cost him his life
  • Walters praised his courageous team
  • a highly courageous act
  • the crew acted courageously in helping all the passengers off the ship

crack

kræk
Upper Intermediate
pp26-27
a crack is a line you can see on something made of china or glass that shows it is damaged
Noun
  • there was a crack in one of the roof tiles and it started leaking
  • an old mug with a crack in it
  • some very fine cracks in the wall
  • a hairline crack (very thin)
  • Verb: crack
  • Adjective: cracked
  • the dish cracked when I put it in the oven
  • she held up a cracked vase
  • the jug was badly cracked

craft fair

krɑːft feə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
a craft fair is an event where people sell things that they have made by hand, such as jewellery, pots, clothes etc.
Noun
  • on the first Saturday of the month, the village hall hosts a craft fair
  • I sell most of what I make at craft fairs
  • we visited several craft fairs in the Harrogate area

crammed

kræmd
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
if something is crammed with things or people, it is very full of them and they are pressed closely together
Adjective
  • be crammed full
  • the bag was crammed with precious things
  • the place was crammed with tourists
  • bags crammed full of food
  • the drawers were crammed full
  • Verb: cram
  • I crammed all the clothes into my suitcase
  • don't try to cram too much into the cupboard

credit

ˈkredɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
credit is an agreement with a bank or other organisation that lets you spend money that you do not have, and that allows you to pay it back later
Noun
  • extend credit to someone
  • give someone credit
  • offer someone credit
  • refuse someone credit
  • the bank wouldn’t extend them any credit
  • we were offered unlimited credit till the end of the year
  • interest-free credit
  • it’s very embarrassing being refused credit

cremate

krɪˈmeɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
if someone is cremated, their body is burned after they have died as part of the funeral ceremony
Verb
  • do you want to be buried or cremated?
  • he had left instructions for his body to be cremated
  • you can't cremate a body without a doctor's certificate
  • Noun: cremation
  • there will be a short service before the cremation

crop

krɒp
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
a crop is a plant such as wheat or corn that is grown by farmers in order to sell
Noun
  • a cash crop
  • a staple crop
  • grow/cultivate a crop
  • traders came directly to the farms to buy the crops
  • better farming techniques will increase crop yields
  • they grow a variety of crops
  • a staple crop (that provides most of someone’s food)
  • a cash crop (that someone grows to sell)
  • they grew crops in large open fields
  • rice is the principal crop cultivated here

crop

krɒp
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
a crop is a plant such as wheat or corn that is grown by farmers in order to sell
Noun
  • a cash crop
  • a staple crop
  • grow/cultivate a crop
  • traders came directly to the farms to buy the crops
  • better farming techniques will increase crop yields
  • they grow a variety of crops
  • a staple crop (that provides most of someone’s food)
  • a cash crop (that someone grows to sell)
  • they grew crops in large open fields
  • rice is the principal crop cultivated here

cruel

ˈkruːəl
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
an activity that is cruel causes unnecessary suffering to people or animals. If people are cruel, they deliberately cause suffering to other people or animals
Adjective
  • many people think bullfighting is cruel
  • it was a very cruel murder
  • children can be extremely cruel to each other
  • he was frequently unpleasant but he was never cruel
  • how selfish and cruel she had been
  • Noun: cruelty
  • Adverb: cruelly
  • the public does not tolerate animal cruelty (cruel treatment of animals)
  • his cruelty toward his employees eventually landed him in prison
  • he was treated cruelly by the other students there
  • he was cruelly punished for such a minor offence

crush

krʌʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
to crush something means to press it with a lot of force so that it becomes flat or breaks into small pieces
Verb
  • crush the almonds and sprinkle on top of the cake
  • add some crushed garlic
  • the grapes were crushed and the juice poured off
  • his leg was crushed
  • he was crushed to death
  • your car will be taken away and crushed

crutch

krʌtʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
a crutch is one of a pair of long sticks that fits under your arm and which you use to help you walk when you have hurt your leg
Noun
  • be on crutches
  • I was on crutches for months (could walk only with the help of crutches)
  • he’s still walking with crutches
  • I don’t need to use crutches now

curiosity

ˌkjʊəriˈɒsəti
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
curiosity is the quality of wanting to know about something
Noun uncount
  • curiosity about something
  • satisfy your curiosity
  • idle curiosity
  • natural curiosity
  • out of curiosity
  • his natural curiosity about the world
  • just out of curiosity, how much did it cost you?
  • the article did little to satisfy his curiosity about the event
  • her curiosity led her to visit the local museum
  • it’s not just idle curiosity – I actually need to know
  • curiosity killed the cat (used to tell someone you want them to stop asking questions about something)
  • Adjective: curious
  • Adverb: curiously
  • very curious
  • slightly curious
  • naturally curious
  • be curious to know/hear/learn about something
  • a naturally curious boy with an appetite for reading
  • the museum has a lot to offer the curious visitor
  • I’m very curious to know what’s inside the suitcase
  • she wasn’t in the least curious about where he had been
  • she looked curiously into the cupboards and wardrobes

curse

kɜː(r)s
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
to curse someone or something means to say words that are deliberately intended to cause something bad to happen to them by magic
Verb
  • she thought I was cursing her
  • all his relatives were cursed forever
  • it was possible to curse an enemy through a spoken word
  • it is highly unlikely you have been cursed
  • Noun: curse
  • put/place a curse on someone or something
  • lift a curse
  • an old woman placed a curse on Serena and her family
  • a terrible curse fell upon her son
  • the witch finally agreed to lift the curse (to say words that would stop the curse being in place)

cut back

kʌt bæk
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
to cut back on something means to reduce it or to reduce the amount of it that you use
Phrasal verb
  • cut back on something
  • they’ve done a lot to cut back the bureaucracy
  • the bank is cutting back on staff
  • I’ve managed to cut back my coffee consumption
  • community services have been cut back and hospitals have closed
  • Noun: cutback
  • make cutbacks
  • severe cutbacks
  • a cutback in funding for schools
  • the company may have to make cutbacks
  • there have been severe cutbacks in the housing budget

cut up

ˈkʌt ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
if you cut someone up when you are driving, you suddenly and dangerously move across so that you are just in front of them. If you get cut up, someone suddenly drives across in front of you in a dangerous way
Phrasal verb
  • we got badly cut up coming off the roundabout
  • Den cut up a lorry and just avoided skidding off the road

cycle

ˈsaɪk(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
a cycle is a complete set of activities that are repeated regularly in the same order
Noun
  • the human life cycle (being born, being alive, dying)
  • not everyone finishes the complete cycle
  • at this point the cycle repeats itself
  • each lunar cycle takes about 29.5 days
  • when the plant is mature, it produces seeds and the cycle continues
  • annual flowers complete their life cycle in one growing season

damages

ˈdæmɪdʒɪz
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
if you win damages, a court orders a person or organisation to give you money because they have made you suffer in some way
Noun plural
  • award someone damages
  • win damages
  • claim damages
  • he won damages of £30,000
  • the court awarded her substantial damages
  • she’s claiming damages for the injuries she suffered
  • he got half a million dollars in damages
  • she is seeking $5 million in damages

dare

deə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
a dare is something difficult or dangerous that you do because someone has challenged you to do it
Noun
  • do something for a dare
  • I tried eating them for a dare
  • he challenged me to a dare
  • Verb: dare
  • dare someone to do something
  • go on, I dare you! (I challenge you)
  • I dare you to call him now
  • I daren’t ask him (I don’t have the courage)

dash

dæʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
if you dash somewhere, you go there in a hurry because you do not want to be late and you do not have much time to get there
Verb
  • I must dash. I have a lesson in ten minutes
  • I dashed down to the shops
  • I’ll just dash home quickly
  • he dashed upstairs to get his watch
  • Noun: dash
  • make a dash (for somewhere)
  • we could make a dash for the car
  • the cat made a dash past us and disappeared upstairs

data analysis

ˈdeɪtə əˌnæləsɪs
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
data analysis is the examination of large amounts of information in order to discover specific and detailed facts about something
Noun uncount
  • computers play a very important role in statistical data analysis
  • the idea behind data analysis is to look for patterns
  • further data analysis may reduce this uncertainty

dead

ded
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
someone who is dead is no longer alive. You can also say that someone who is extremely tired feels dead, because they feel as if there is no life or energy in them
Adjective
  • I collapsed on the sofa feeling dead
  • she slept for 12 hours, dead to the world (fast asleep and not disturbed by anything going on around her)
  • Adverb: dead
  • dead tired/beat
  • although she was dead tired, she couldn’t sleep

declare

dɪˈkleə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
if you declare something, you say formally what you think, and what you will or will not do in a particular situation
Verb
  • declare that
  • he declared that he wasn’t interested
  • Nicky had declared his intention of joining the army
  • he publicly declared his opposition to the proposal
  • until today she had never openly declared herself (told people exactly what she thought)
  • Noun: declaration
  • her declaration of love towards him
  • his declaration of intent

dedicated

ˈdedɪˌkeɪtɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
if something is dedicated to a particular subject or activity, it deals only with that subject or activity and not with anything else
Adjective
  • the museum opened a new wing dedicated exclusively to Asian art
  • a dedicated collector of 20th century Russian maps
  • we are dedicated professionals who understand the business of selling houses
  • Verb: dedicate
  • she dedicated her life to the fight against poverty
  • his last years were dedicated to religious activities

dedicated

ˈdedɪˌkeɪtɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
see above
Adjective

deed

diːd
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
a deed is an action or something that someone does. People usually use the word deed when they are making a judgement about whether something was a good or bad action
Noun
  • a good/bad deed
  • bad deeds will bring their own punishment
  • the bombing was condemned as an evil deed
  • one bad deed was enough for him to go to prison
  • a reward for all your good deeds

deep

diːp
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
you use deep to emphasise how serious and important a problem or situation is
Adjective
  • this shows there is a deeper problem in the company
  • these are the deep problems that we must address in the years ahead
  • the letter made a deep impression on Edward
  • the poem was deep with truth and feeling
  • Noun: depth
  • the film had a surprising depth of emotion

defeat

dɪˈfiːt
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
to defeat someone means to beat them in a fight, argument, election, or sport
Verb
  • decisively/heavily/easily defeat someone
  • defeat an enemy/opponent
  • religious stories, like David defeating the giant Goliath
  • he crushed the revolt and defeated his opponents
  • the right-wing candidates were soundly defeated
  • the invasion was bitterly resisted and decisively defeated
  • Spurs narrowly defeated Arsenal 1-0
  • the Japanese decisively defeated Russia in 1905
  • Noun: defeat
  • suffer a defeat
  • admit defeat
  • a strong UEA team inflicted the first defeat of the season against NCC
  • the US Army suffered a huge defeat
  • she hated to admit defeat

defensive

dɪˈfensɪv
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
if someone is defensive, they are angry because they think that someone is criticising them
Adjective
  • be defensive about something
  • don’t be so defensive
  • telling them they’re wrong will just make them defensive
  • he got a bit defensive
  • she was really defensive about it
  • Adverb: defensively
  • Noun: defensive
  • be on the defensive
  • "it's my room too", Sally said defensively. "I can come in if I like"
  • I heard her say, slightly on the defensive, "It's an investment"

degree

dɪˈɡriː
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
a degree of something is a certain amount of it
Noun
  • a degree of something
  • they display a healthy degree of impatience
  • these investments carry varying degrees of risk
  • a remarkable degree of progress has already been achieved
  • a high degree of craftsmanship

delegate

ˈdɛləˌɡeɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if you delegate a job, task, or responsibility to someone, you tell them that they have to do the job or task or take the responsibility instead of you
Verb
  • delegate a job/task
  • delegate responsibility/powers
  • delegate something to someone
  • He’s always reluctant to delegate responsibility
  • the job was delegated to me
  • Noun: delegation
  • delegation of authority
  • delegation of something to someone
  • effective delegation is the mark of a good manager
  • the delegation of tax-raising powers to the Scottish parliament

demanding

dɪˈmɑːndɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
a person or situation that is demanding is difficult to deal with because they need a lot of your time or energy
Adjective
  • the aerobics class was just too demanding for me
  • it is a physically demanding journey
  • she has an extremely demanding job
  • he always took on the least demanding tasks at work
  • quality products that will satsify even the most demanding customers
  • Verb: demand
  • the lecture demanded her full attention
  • the task demands 100% concentration

democratic

ˌdeməˈkrætɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
a democratic political system involves people voting so that their representatives are chosen by a majority of people. If an activity is democratic, it is organised in a way that has the agreement or approval of the majority of people who are involved
Adjective
  • art is most definitely not democratic
  • a democratic country where free speech is guaranteed
  • school life was far from democratic
  • our nation was founded to perpetuate democratic principles
  • English has always been a thoroughly democratic language
  • Adjective: undemocratic
  • Adverb: democratically
  • Noun: democracy
  • it is undemocratic to rule over people without seeking their votes
  • the government condemned the strike as undemocratic
  • a democratically elected government
  • a democratically managed organisation
  • they argued that socialism without democracy is impossible
  • the dictatorship was overthrown and democracy restored

dent

dent
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
a dent is a place on a surface which is no longer flat because something has hit against it and damaged it
Noun
  • a little/large dent (in something)
  • make a dent
  • there was a noticeable dent in the passenger door
  • the dent was the result of a collision with a delivery van
  • the bullet made a dent in the ceiling
  • it left a large dent in the rear bumper
  • Adjective: dented
  • Verb: dent
  • he backed into my car, dented the boot, then drove off
  • the scratched and dented surface of the table
  • a dented tin saucepan

deny

dɪˈnaɪ
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
if someone denies you something, they do not let you have it. You can also say that you have been denied something when you have not been allowed to have it
Verb
  • she claimed she was denied promotion
  • they were denied access to the building
  • they denied him his right to a lawyer
  • should doctors deny treatment to patients who are obese?
  • his claim for compensation has been denied twice

deposit

dɪˈpɒzɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
a deposit is a sum of money you pay when you hire something, and which you get back if you return what you hired in good condition
Noun
  • a refundable/returnable deposit
  • it was a struggle getting them to return our deposit
  • the deposit will be 15% of the rental price
  • bike hire is £10 an hour, with a £50 returnable deposit payable immediately

deprived

dɪˈpraɪvd
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
a place that is deprived is one where very poor people live. You can also say that a person is deprived
Adjective
  • a deprived childhood/background
  • a deprived area
  • one of the most deprived areas in the country
  • a deprived inner city school
  • deprived children
  • he wrote a play about his deprived background (about growing up very poor)
  • she had a very deprived childhood
  • Noun: deprivation
  • the city has high levels of deprivation
  • a life full of hardship and deprivation

descend

dɪˈsend
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
if someone or something descends into a bad state, they become worse and cannot prevent what is happening
Verb
  • he gradually descends into madness
  • the country is descending into civil war
  • Romania almost descended into revolution
  • he gave up crime but descended into alcoholism
  • Noun: descent
  • descent into something
  • it was my first descent into genuine despair
  • no one could prevent the country’s descent into anarchy (when no one obeys the law)

descend

dɪˈsend
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
to descend means to go or come down
Verb
  • an enormous rope descended from the sky
  • the plane began to descend
  • the Queen descended the stairs
  • a path which descends steeply into the valley below
  • Noun: descent
  • their descent of the mountain
  • the plane began its descent

deserted

dɪˈzɜː(r)tɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp52-53
if a place is deserted, there is no one there at all
Adjective
  • the beach was deserted so we had it to ourselves
  • the room was deserted and cold
  • the town looked completely deserted
  • walking through the deserted streets
  • a deserted village
  • the path alongside the abbey was entirely deserted

desire

dɪˈzaɪə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
someone’s desire for something is their strong wish to have or achieve that thing
Noun
  • a desire for something
  • a desire to do something
  • a strong desire
  • we understand the club’s desire to boost its income
  • they have a genuine desire to learn
  • she had a strong desire for success
  • their deepest secrets and desires
  • Verb: desire
  • Adjective: desirable
  • Adjective: desired
  • Noun: desirability
  • Antonym – Adjective: undesirable
  • those who sincerely desire peace
  • do any of them honestly desire to know the answer?
  • previous experience is desirable but not essential
  • our customers say this is a highly desirable feature
  • his actions achieved the desired result
  • pull the ends until the bow is the desired shape
  • there is disagreement about the desirability of this kind of development
  • there may be undesirable effects from this drug
  • the outcome was highly undesirable

despair

dɪˈspeə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
despair is a feeling that you have no hope. If you are in despair, you believe you are in a very bad situation and that you have no hope of improving it
Noun uncount
  • be in despair
  • drive someone to despair
  • a state of despair
  • a feeling of total despair
  • he killed himself in despair
  • she was in the depths of despair
  • losing the business drove him to despair
  • her relief turned to despair when she saw the result of her blood test
  • in a state of deep despair
  • Verb: despair
  • Adjective: despairing
  • Adjective: desperate
  • Adverb: desperately
  • Noun: desperation
  • despair of (doing) something
  • a desperate situation
  • a desperate attempt/effort
  • do something in desperation
  • it was a very difficult time, but we never despaired
  • I never despaired of finding him again
  • he let out a despairing cry
  • the economy is in a desperate situation
  • a desperate attempt to escape
  • your parents are desperately worried about you
  • in desperation, she called the hospital

desperate

ˈdesp(ə)rət
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
if someone is desperate, they are in a very difficult situation and want or need something very badly
Adjective
  • be desperate for something
  • be desperate to do something
  • they’re desperate for more staff
  • the hungrier people are, the more desperate they are
  • we were getting desperate
  • he’s desperate to get a job
  • they’re in desperate need of help
  • a desperate effort to reach an agreement
  • she grew more and more desperate as her money ran out
  • Adverb: desperately
  • Noun: desperation
  • the people desperately need food
  • people are heading for the cities in desperation

destruction

dɪˈstrʌkʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
the destruction of something happens when it becomes so damaged that it is completely broken or no longer exists
Noun uncount
  • the destruction of the environment
  • the storm caused widespread destruction of houses and shops
  • Dresden suffered almost complete destruction in the bombing raid
  • the flooding brought about death and destruction
  • Verb: destroy
  • Adjective: destructive
  • Adverb: destructively
  • the building was destroyed during the war
  • in 1940 an earthquake destroyed the city of Lima
  • these were destructive weapons
  • oil spills can be extremely destructive to the marine environment

detract

dɪˈtrækt
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
if something detracts from something else, it makes it seem worse than it really is
Verb
  • detract from something
  • this should not detract from the reality of the change that is happening
  • we mustn’t let this detract from our other achievements
  • attempts to cut costs without detracting from the level of service provided
  • Noun: detractor
  • his policies have many detractors (people who say they are not good)
  • the move was welcomed even by the president’s detractors

devastate

ˈdevəˌsteɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
to devastate something means to damage it very badly. To devastate a person means to upset them very badly
Verb
  • the country had been devastated by war
  • losses which have devastated the economy
  • the bombing raid devastated the town
  • the housing crisis devastated the local community
  • Adjective: devastated
  • Adjective: devastating
  • Adverb: devastatingly
  • Noun: devastation
  • I was absolutely devastated when he died
  • the devastated village was still burning hours later
  • the decision was to have devastating results
  • the effect on the children was devastating
  • a devastatingly destructive weapon
  • sneezes are devastatingly effective at spreading germs
  • the storm caused devastation for miles around
  • the absolute devastation of modern war

development

dɪˈveləpmənt
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
a development is a set of new buildings, or changes made to existing buildings so that they can start being used for a different purpose
Noun
  • a housing development
  • a campaign against the new tourist development
  • a housing development is now being planned along the canal
  • the industrial development was financed by foreign investment
  • today, residential developments are replacing farms
  • Verb: develop
  • Noun: developer
  • the site will be developed for new housing
  • private developers built the new housing estate

device

dɪˈvaɪs
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
a device is a machine or tool that does a particular job
Noun
  • a mobile device
  • an electronic device
  • a device for (doing) something
  • a device that allows you to share files
  • you can watch YouTube on mobile devices
  • please turn off your electronic devices
  • an ingenious little device
  • some sophisticated devices
  • a device for measuring electrical flow
  • it’s fitted with a special anti-locking device
  • all our vehicles have the latest hi-tech safety devices

device

dɪˈvaɪs
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
a device is a machine or tool that does a particular job. A device is also a bomb
Noun
  • a mobile device
  • an electronic device
  • a device for (doing) something
  • the device went off in a shopping centre
  • an explosive device
  • a nuclear device
  • the device had been left in a bus station
  • you can watch YouTube on mobile devices
  • please turn off your electronic devices
  • a device for measuring electrical flow
  • all our vehicles have the latest hi-tech safety devices

dictator

dɪkˈteɪtə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
a dictator is a ruler who has complete power in a country
Noun
  • he accused the local council of acting like dictators
  • an evil dictator
  • a fascist dictator
  • an attempt to overthrow the dictator
  • a military dictator
  • Noun: dictatorship
  • he was very active against the dictatorship
  • Venezuela saw ten years of military dictatorship from 1948 to 1958

diesel

ˈdiːz(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
diesel is the sort of fuel used in diesel engines, which burn oil in very hot air. You can refer to a car with a diesel engine as a diesel
Noun uncount
  • diesel vehicle/car/truck/engine
  • diesel fumes
  • diesel is more expensive than petrol in the UK
  • diesel engines give you more miles to the gallon
  • our last car was a diesel
  • diesel prices are about to go up again

dig up

ˌdɪɡ ˈʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
to dig up vegetables means to pull them out of the ground so that they can be eaten
Phrasal verb
  • dig up potatoes/onions/carrots
  • we dug up four kilos of carrots
  • it’s back-breaking work digging up potatoes all day

dignity

ˈdɪɡnəti
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
dignity is behaviour that people respect because it is polite and controlled and does not show unnecessary emotion
Noun uncount
  • calm/quiet dignity
  • great dignity
  • respect someone’s dignity
  • she behaved with great dignity
  • everyone should be treated with respect and dignity
  • Bettinson is a man of considerable dignity
  • pensioners should be able to live with dignity
  • Adjective: dignified
  • a man of dignified manners
  • they praised him for the dignified way he conducted himself
  • I maintained a dignified silence

disappearance

ˌdɪsəˈpɪərəns
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
someone’s disappearance is when they are not where they are expected to be and no one knows where they are
Noun
  • you should report the disappearance to the police
  • police said her disappearance was suspicious
  • the still unexplained disappearance of her husband
  • police are investigating the disappearance of a French tourist
  • Verb: disappear
  • she just disappeared
  • the boys disappeared while they were walking home from school

disappointment

ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
disappointment is the feeling of unhappiness that you get when something you wanted does not happen, or when you do not get something you were hoping to get
Noun
  • sport teaches us to cope with disappointment
  • book early to avoid disappointment
  • the film was a terrible disappointment (it wasn’t as good as we hoped it would be)
  • he expressed his disappointment at the result
  • I tried to smile and hide my disappointment
  • to my huge disppointment, the app kept crashing
  • Adjective: disappointed
  • Adjective: disappointing
  • Verb: disappoint
  • he felt disappointed and let down
  • he was a very disappointed man
  • the book had disappointing sales
  • my exam results were hugely disappointing
  • I didn’t want to disappoint her
  • the singer disappointed her fans by arriving three hours late for the concert

discard

dɪsˈkɑː(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
if something is discarded, it is carelessly thrown away rather than being used or recycled
Verb
  • a huge quantity of food is simply discarded
  • be sure to discard the water you soaked the beans in
  • he sorted through the box, selecting and discarding various items
  • the knife and cloth were both discarded
  • Adjective: discarded
  • discarded electrical or electronic devices
  • a discarded plastic water bottle

disguise

dɪsˈɡaɪz
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
to disguise yourself means to change your appearance so that people will not recognise you because you look very different
Verb
  • disguise yourself (as someone)
  • she disguised herself as a police officer
  • even though he had disguised himself, they caught him before he reached the border
  • he was disguised as a bus driver
  • Noun: disguise
  • in disguise
  • he wore a disguise
  • she put on a different disguise
  • he travelled in disguise (wearing a disguise)
  • no one saw through his disguise

dismay

dɪsˈmeɪ
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
dismay is sadness and disappointment about something bad or unpleasant that has happened
Noun uncount
  • with/in dismay
  • voice your dismay
  • to someone’s dismay
  • the minister voiced her dismay
  • the look on her face expressed dismay
  • his death caused dismay among his friends
  • Ruth shook her head in dismay
  • to everyone’s dismay, the singer failed to arrive
  • Verb: dismay
  • Adjective: dismaying
  • Adverb: dismayed
  • his decision to leave dismayed his family
  • what is it that dismays you about the situation?
  • they were dismayed by what they saw
  • it was a dismaying experience
  • I found it all very dismaying
  • Peggy was too dismayed to speak

disobey

ˌdɪsəˈbeɪ
Upper Intermediate
pp136-137
if you disobey someone or disobey an order, you do not do what you have been told to do
Verb
  • Nelson won the battle, but had disobeyed direct orders
  • those who appeared to disobey were quickly arrested
  • don’t you dare disobey me!
  • his instructions were disobeyed by the whole class
  • he would never dare to disobey his father
  • Adjective: disobedient
  • Noun: disobedience
  • Antonyms: Verb: obey
  • Adjective: obedient
  • Adverb: obediently
  • Noun: obedience
  • civil disobedience
  • complete/blind/unquestioning obedience
  • as a child, he was naughty and disobedient
  • a mischievous and disobedient child
  • the time has come for non-violent civil disobedience (when lots of people peacefully break the law as a way of protesting against something)
  • an act of disobedience
  • he reluctantly obeyed his father and took a job in the family firm
  • if you don’t obey, you will be punished
  • their orders must be obeyed without question
  • he is very obedient and never gets into trouble
  • she had never been an obedient child
  • Patrick rose obediently and went to the door
  • Obediently, I took a few steps forward
  • she demanded complete obedience from her staff
  • unquestioning obedience to the regulations of the army
  • I want co-operation, not blind obedience (complete obedience that does not involve any thought)

display

dɪˈspleɪ
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
a display of something is an occasion when someone publicly shows a particular feeling or emotion
Noun
  • an open/public display
  • a display of emotion/anger/grief/affection
  • a display of wealth/power/strength
  • it was an unexpected display of emotion from him
  • the public display of grief that followed the death of the princess
  • Verb: display
  • openly/publicly display something
  • the English try hard not to display their emotions
  • he was too ashamed to publicly display his grief

dispute

dɪˈspjuːt
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
if there is a dispute about something, people cannot agree about it and so they argue about it
Noun
  • a dispute over/about something
  • a dispute between people
  • a pay dispute
  • a major/minor dispute
  • a bitter/fierce dispute
  • be in dispute with someone
  • settle a dispute
  • if there’s any dispute, call me and I’ll sort it out
  • an industrial dispute at a factory in London
  • a dispute between the two parents
  • efforts to settle the dispute
  • a dispute over a piece of land
  • the facts are not in dispute (everyone agrees about them)
  • Verb: dispute
  • Adjective: disputed
  • a disputed territory/border/region
  • his client disputed the fee
  • you have already disputed this point with me five or six times already
  • the contract was disputed but the payments continued for another year
  • the result of disputed elections
  • disputed territory (land that two different countries claim to own)

disqualified

dɪsˈkwɒlɪfaɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp136-137
if you qualify for a competition, you have the right level of ability or you have done well enough in a preliminary competition to be allowed to take part. If you break the rules while you are competing, then you are disqualified and are not allowed to carry on taking part
Adjective
  • be disqualified for something
  • be disqualified from something
  • he and three others were disqualified for failing a drugs test
  • if neither attend, both will be disqualified
  • after a third false start, she was disqualified from the race
  • Noun: disqualification
  • a third warning will mean instant disqualification
  • he faced disqualification for late registration

disrepair

ˌdɪsrɪˈpeə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
disrepair is the state of being damaged or broken. If something falls into disrepair, it gradually gets into a bad condition because no one takes any care of it
Noun uncount
  • fall into disrepair
  • a state of disrepair
  • the castle was in a state of serious disrepair
  • the building was in such a state of disrepair that it had to be demolished
  • there were obvious signs of disrepair and neglect
  • the sheds have fallen into disrepair and will have to be pulled down

dissuade

dɪˈsweɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
to dissuade someone means to persuade them not to do something
Verb
  • dissuade someone from (doing) something
  • she couldn’t dissuade her husband
  • I tried to dissuade him from leaving
  • a campaign to dissuade young people from binge drinking
  • it was futile trying to dissuade him
  • Noun: dissuasion
  • try using dissuasion rather than outright bans
  • her attempts at dissuasion failed, and he left the next morning

distinct

dɪˈstɪŋkt
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
something that is distinct is clearly different from other things of the same sort
Adjective
  • there are four distinct phases that everyone goes through
  • the country has four distinct geographical regions
  • the government recognises 135 distinct ethnic groups
  • it is quite distinct from any other European language
  • the two colonies remained distinct
  • Adverb: distinctly
  • this puzzle has two distinctly different solutions
  • these are distinctly separate issues

distraction

dɪˈstrækʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
a distraction is something that turns your attention away from what you were doing or thinking about and onto something else
Noun
  • an unnecessary distraction
  • a welcome distraction
  • try and avoid unnecessary distractions
  • the music from downstairs was a constant distraction
  • lunch created a welcome distraction from the stress of the meeting
  • using a mobile while driving can be a dangerous distraction
  • Verb: distract
  • Adjective: distracting
  • Adjective: distracted
  • don’t allow anything to distract you
  • I don't let these thoughts distract me from my job
  • she was distracted by the phone ringing
  • I found the flashing lights very distracting
  • his mind filled with distracting thoughts
  • she seemed a little distracted during the meal
  • distracted drivers can cause serious accidents

disturbing

dɪˈstɜː(r)bɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
something that is disturbing makes you feel worried or upset
Adjective
  • find something disturbing
  • the news was deeply disturbing
  • viewers may find some scenes disturbing
  • a disturbing thought struck Melissa
  • a disturbing trend towards long-term unemployment
  • Verb: disturb
  • Adjective: disturbed
  • be disturbed by/about/at something
  • nothing ever seemed to disturb him
  • his father was disturbed at the lack of progress he was making at school

do

duː
Upper Intermediate
pp88-89
a do is a special party or other social occasion
Noun
  • a big do
  • a birthday do
  • it’s her 30th birthday so she’s planning a big do
  • the annual family do in Somerset
  • are you going to the do at the club tonight?
  • I’ve been invited to his stag do (a special party a man has with his male friends shortly before he gets married)

domestic

dəˈmestɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
domestic means relating to or happening within people’s homes and within the family
Adjective
  • domestic violence
  • 30 years of domestic happiness ended when his wife died
  • domestic chores (jobs like cleaning the house and doing the washing)
  • domestic abuse that includes physical violence is called domestic violence

dominant

ˈdɒmɪnənt
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
if a person or thing is dominant, they have more power or influence than others around them
Adjective
  • the dominant partner in the relationship
  • a dominant personality
  • the company has a dominant position in the world market
  • big business remained dominant in the economy
  • Verb: dominate
  • Noun: dominance
  • as usual, Williams dominated the meeting
  • the political and economic dominance of the USA

dominate

ˈdɒmɪneɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
if something dominates a place or situation, it is bigger or more important than other things, and stops people noticing or thinking about anything else
Verb
  • the new skyscrapers really dominate the city
  • the church dominates the town square
  • the town is dominated by a huge power station
  • the economy dominated the election campaign
  • as usual, Williams dominated the meeting
  • Adjective: dominant
  • Noun: dominance
  • the company has a dominant position in the world market
  • big business remained dominant in the economy
  • the political and economic dominance of the USA

donate

dəʊˈneɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
if you donate something to a charity or organisation, you give it without getting anything in return because you want to help the charity or organisation
Verb
  • donate something to something
  • they donated £2,000 to the hospital
  • every dollar you donate goes toward the rebuilding project
  • using a credit card, you can donate online
  • please donate generously as every little bit counts
  • the school was built with funds donated by the Colmore family
  • Noun: donation
  • Noun: donor
  • make a donation
  • a generous donation
  • request a donation
  • accept a donation
  • we’ve received some very generous donations
  • a donation of £5 is requested from all visitors to the exhibition
  • entrance is free, but donations are gratefully accepted
  • donors have given over £30,000
  • an anonymous donor
  • the donor countries (the countries who gave money)

donation

dəʊˈneɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
a donation is money or goods that someone gives to help or support a charity or other organisation
Noun
  • make a donation
  • a generous donation
  • request a donation
  • accept a donation
  • we’ve received some very generous donations
  • the money was raised through private donations
  • a donation of £5 is requested from all visitors to the exhibition
  • these donations have helped the theatre stay open
  • entrance is free, but donations are gratefully accepted
  • Verb: donate
  • Noun: donor
  • donate something to something
  • they donated £2,000 to the hospital
  • every dollar you donate goes toward the rebuilding project
  • using a credit card, you can donate online
  • donors have given over £30,000
  • an anonymous donor
  • the donor countries (the countries who gave money)

donor

ˈdəʊnə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
a donor is someone who gives money to help an organisation or charity
Noun
  • $50 comes from donors and the rest from government
  • donors have given over £30,000
  • an anonymous donor
  • the donor countries (the countries who gave money)
  • more than £8,000 was contributed by private donors
  • Noun: donate
  • Verb: donation
  • they donated £2,000 to the hospital
  • every dollar you donate goes toward the rebuilding project
  • using a credit card, you can donate online
  • we’ve received some very generous donations
  • the money was raised through private donations
  • these donations have helped the theatre stay open

dose

dəʊs
Upper Intermediate
pp48-49
a dose of medicine is the exact amount of it that the doctor says you should have at one time. If you say that something or someone is all right in small doses, you mean that you do not want to have much of it or spend a long time with them
Noun
  • he’s OK in small doses
  • I can take his humour, but only in small doses
  • classical music is fine, so long as it’s in small doses

downplay

ˌdaʊnˈpleɪ
Upper Intermediate
pp128-129
to downplay something means to try and make people think it is less bad or serious than it really is
Verb
  • the marketing of lotteries downplays the odds against winning
  • trying to downplay the problem
  • the Russian Navy initially downplayed the incident
  • official sources downplayed the numbers of casualties
  • Synonym: play down
  • a government official played down the report
  • she played down fears that the injury might force her retirement from tennis

downward

ˈdaʊnwə(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
a downward trend or process involves something getting worse or decreasing
Adjective
  • these measures could reverse the downward spiral
  • the downward population trend slowed down
  • a downward revision to its profit forecast
  • workers will see significant downward pressure on wages
  • Adverb: downward
  • sales trended downward after Christmas
  • any earlier predictions must now be revised downward

drag

dræɡ
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
if you drag someone somewhere, you make them go there with you, even though they do not want to go
Verb
  • my friend dragged me along to the party
  • trying to drag him away from the pub
  • they dragged me off to the cinema
  • we managed to drag him out of bed

draining

ˈdreɪnɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if an activity is draining, it uses all your physical or mental energy and makes you feel tired
Adjective
  • emotionally/mentally draining
  • physically draining
  • I found the film emotionally draining
  • the work can be physically and mentally draining
  • Adjective: drained
  • emotionally/mentally drained
  • feel drained
  • physically drained
  • utterly/completely drained
  • I felt utterly drained
  • the team were physically and emotonally drained

dramatic

drəˈmætɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
if something is dramatic, it is quite exciting and impressive
Adjective
  • a dramatic painting of the Battle of Trafalgar
  • Cumbria is famous for its dramatic scenery
  • the story ended in a highly dramatic fashion
  • the whole experience was quite dramatic
  • Adverb: dramatically
  • he kicked open the door and leapt dramatically into the room

draw

drɔː
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
to draw a sports match means to end the game with the same number of goals or points as your opponent, so that neither side is the winner
Verb
  • draw with someone
  • we should have drawn with them at least
  • they drew 2 all with Chelsea
  • City and United drew nil all (no one scored any goals)
  • we drew both our first matches in the tournament
  • Kane scored 2 minutes from the end and the match was drawn
  • Noun: draw
  • we got a draw against Arsenal
  • the match ended in a draw
  • Bolton fought back to secure a draw

dread

dred
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
if you dread something, you worry about it happening because you think it will be unpleasant or harmful
Verb
  • dread to think something
  • I used to dread going home in the dark
  • I dread to think how much this is going to cost
  • she always dreaded the weekly swimming lesson
  • Adjective: dreaded
  • the first indications of some dreaded disease
  • the dreaded secret police
  • the dreaded telegram arrived on Thursday morning: Jim was dead

drift

drɪft
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
if things are drifting, no one is controlling events or planning what should happen. If someone is drifting, they are not trying to control what is happening in their life
Verb
  • drift along/around
  • drift into something
  • it will only make things worse if you just let things drift
  • she drifted into a job as a waitress
  • I like to sit back and let life drift around me
  • do you just drift along and accept what happens, rather than setting specific goals?

drive

draɪv
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
to drive people into a particular condition or situation means to force them into it
Verb
  • can education drive people away from crime?
  • money problems drove him to despair (made him desperate)
  • his constant chattering drove me mad
  • fear of being caught almost drove him to suicide

dropout

ˈdrɒpaʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
a dropout is someone who leaves school, college, or university before they finish their course of studies
Noun
  • dropouts often complain that their classes were too boring
  • a pair of college dropouts who couldn't find work
  • school dropout rates were rising
  • Phrasal verb: drop out
  • he dropped out at the end of the second semester
  • why do so many students drop out of school?

drown

draʊn
Upper Intermediate
pp48-49
if someone drowns, they die by being under water for too long and being unable to breathe any air
Verb
  • she drowned in the sea
  • I’m terrified of drowning
  • Liam's mother accidentally drowned whilst swimming
  • at least 15 passengers drowned while dozens remain missing
  • the boat overturned and a sailor was drowned
  • a tragic drowning in the local swimming pool

drug

drʌɡ
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
to drug someone means to give them a drug without their knowing about it so that they will be sleepy or unconscious. To drug their drink means to put a drug into something that they will drink
Verb
  • I think he’d drugged them to make them fall asleep
  • police believe he may have drugged his victims
  • Paul drugged a drink with a sleeping pill and gave it to her

dubious

ˈdjuːbiəs
Upper Intermediate
pp128-129
if you think something is dubious, you are not sure that it is true or correct. If you are dubious about something, you are not sure if it is true or correct
Adjective
  • the referee gave some dubious decisions
  • that seems a bit dubious to me
  • some of the information was highly dubious
  • some of his colleagues were equally dubious about the plan
  • the waiter looked dubious for a moment
  • both these ideas are extremely dubious
  • Adverb: dubiously
  • the chief shook his head dubiously
  • the figures were rather dubiously obtained

dump

dʌmp
Upper Intermediate
pp52-53
if you refer to a place as a dump, you mean it is very dirty, untidy, or in a bad condition
Noun
  • the place was a bit of a dump
  • his flat was a real dump
  • what a dump!
  • a rubbish dump (where rubbish is taken and left)
  • Verb: dump
  • he’d dumped all his dirty washing onm the bed
  • someone dumped a load of rubbish outside our front door

earnings

ˈɜː(r)nɪŋz
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
someone’s earnings are all the money they get for doing their job
Noun plural
  • average earnings
  • hourly/weekly/monthly earnings
  • earnings growth
  • average earnings rose sharply last year
  • hourly earnings fell 1% in January
  • Verb: earn
  • earn money/income
  • earn a living
  • I earned more last year than my father did
  • how much do you earn a week?

ease

iːz
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
if something eases or eases off, it becomes less severe
Verb
  • we had to pull over until the rain eased off
  • it’s eased off a bit now
  • the pain was beginning to ease
  • the snow’s eased off slightly

ease

iːz
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
ease is a feeling of being relaxed and comfortable. If you are at ease in a situation, you are relaxed and do not feel threatened
Noun uncount
  • put someone at ease
  • feel at ease
  • he was at ease with them
  • I felt completely at ease
  • we tried to make him feel at ease
  • he seemed ill at ease (not relaxed)
  • they tried to put me at ease (make me feel relaxed)

eczema

ˈeksɪmə
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
eczema is a skin condition in which your skin is constantly sore and you want to scratch it all the time
Noun uncount
  • I have slight eczema on the palms of my hands
  • Jeffrey’s eczema was getting worse as a result of all the stress
  • cases of asthma and eczema are rising by about 5% every year
  • allergies such as eczema
  • a flare up of my eczema (a time when it suddenly gets worse)

edge

edʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
if there is an edge to a situation, people realise that there is some danger or that something exciting might be about to happen
Noun
  • a fact which lends a disturbing edge to the portrait
  • it gave the show a certain edge
  • the presence of his ex-wife gave the meeting an extra edge

efficiently

ɪˈfɪʃ(ə)ntli
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
if something happens or is done efficiently, it happens or is done well and without wasting any time or money
Adverb
  • the problem was resolved quickly and efficiently
  • the whole process went smoothly and efficiently
  • I don’t work very efficiently early in the morning
  • a rail system that can efficiently transport thousands of commuters every day
  • Adjective: efficient
  • Noun: efficiency
  • Antonym – Adjective: inefficient
  • Adverb: inefficiently
  • the staff are friendly and efficient
  • a very efficient way of managing your time
  • the kitchen staff were highly efficient
  • the changes should lead to greater efficiency
  • it may also improve the efficiency of the system
  • there were too many small, inefficient firms
  • the food distribution system is highly inefficient
  • water is used inefficiently nearly everywhere
  • the business was being run very inefficiently

elbow

ˈelbəʊ
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
your elbow is the joint in the middle of your arm, which makes your arm able to bend
Noun
  • I banged my elbow on the door
  • she fell and injured her elbow
  • take your elbows off the table (because it’s considered rude to rest your elbows on a dining table in Britain)
  • can you bend your elbow, or is it too stiff?

embark

ɪmˈbɑː(r)k
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
to embark on a journey or activity means to begin it. To embark also means to go on board a ship or plane at the start of a journey
Verb
  • embark on something
  • the company embarked on a major review of its operations
  • diplomats embarked on another round of talks
  • think carefully before embarking on such a venture
  • he embarked on a journey that would take him across three continents
  • she’s about to embark on a degree course
  • we’re embarking on a Caribbean cruise
  • the passengers were given the signal to embark
  • Antonym: disembark
  • all passengers should disembark as quickly as possible
  • a small number of passengers were not allowed to disembark in Tunis

embark

ɪmˈbɑː(r)k
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
to embark on a journey or activity means to begin it. To embark also means to go on board a ship or plane at the start of a journey
Verb
  • embark on something
  • she embarked on a degree in software engineering
  • the company embarked on a major review of its operations
  • diplomats embarked on another round of talks
  • think carefully before embarking on such a venture
  • he embarked on a journey that would take him across three continents
  • we’re embarking on a Caribbean cruise
  • the passengers were given the signal to embark
  • Antonym: disembark
  • all passengers should disembark as quickly as possible
  • a small number of passengers were not allowed to disembark in Tunis

emperor

ˈemp(ə)rə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
an emperor is a person who controls not just one country but several countries. These countries are known as an empire
Noun
  • the church contains the tomb of the last emperor
  • the emperor had absolute power
  • a magnificent statue of the emperor
  • the museum was founded in 1814, during the reign of the Emperor Napoleon
  • Adjective: imperial
  • he was not afraid to use his imperial authority
  • an imperial prince (the son of an emperor)

emphasis

ˈemfəsɪs
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
emphasis is special importance that you think something has, which affects the way you deal with it
Noun
  • place emphasis on something
  • we place too much emphasis on punishment
  • emphasis is placed on reducing pollution in the city centre
  • the navy put particular emphasis on the need for new aircraft carriers
  • the emphasis here is on speaking and listening rather than reading and writing
  • Verb: emphasise
  • training of public officials should be emphasised
  • the role of good project management is emphasised

empty

ˈempti
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
to empty a container means to take everything out of it. If you empty the contents of a container, you take them all out
Verb
  • I must have emptied a litre of water out of my shoes
  • she emptied a bucket of water over the two dogs
  • you can buy lots of these earrings without emptying your wallet (without spending all the money that you have)
  • she opened her bag and emptied the contents out on the desk

enable

ɪnˈeɪb(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
to enable something to happen means to make it possible for that thing to happen
Verb
  • art is the lie that enables us to realise the truth
  • the long holiday enabled us to finish the repairs to the farmhouse
  • good communication enabled them to increase total efficiency
  • this option enables you to print your ticket before going to the airport
  • Adjective: enabled
  • web-enabled mobile devices

encounter

ɪnˈkaʊntə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
to encounter something means to experience it
Verb
  • the hero encountered a problem
  • the idea has encountered fierce opposition
  • we encountered a few problems
  • United Nations forces encountered some resistance
  • Noun: encounter
  • some violent encounters with the police
  • a close encounter with a snake
  • our first encounter (the first time we met)

end-of-year

ˌend əv ˈjɪə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp88-89
end-of-year activities happen at the end of a period of time such as a school year or a financial year
Adjective
  • an end-of-year party
  • the chairman’s end-of-year review can be downloaded from the company website
  • end-of-year exams
  • her end-of-year address to the nation
  • the finance department are preparing the end-of-year results

enquiry

ɪnˈkwaɪri
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
an enquiry is a question intended to get some information about something. An enquiry is also a formal process of finding out what happened in a particular situation. The spelling inquiry is also used
Noun
  • launch an enquiry
  • make enquiries
  • an internal enquiry
  • a public inquiry
  • an independent inquiry
  • helping the police with their enquiries
  • a major police inquiry is being carried out
  • launch a murder inquiry
  • an internal inquiry (carried out within an organisation and not involving people from outside)
  • Dr Clark demanded a full independent inquiry
  • Willis was sent over to Ireland to make preliminary enquiries
  • a public inquiry was held and the scheme was approved
  • we try to answer written enquiries within 24 hours
  • Verb: enquire or inquire
  • I’m just calling to enquire about some prices
  • I’m phoning to inquire whether you have any rooms available

ensure

ɪnˈʃɔː(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
to ensure that something happens means to make certain that it happens
Verb
  • ensure that something happens
  • tax breaks have ensured low ticket prices
  • please ensure your child returns the signed letter to us
  • you must ensure that all the clips are done up securely
  • precautions to ensure the safety of all passengers

entrepreneur

ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜː(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
an entrepreneur is someone who sets up and runs a business
Noun
  • prospective entrepreneurs present their plans to a panel of investors
  • a successful entrepreneur
  • Lisa is a serial entrepreneur, having founded three businesses
  • some high school entrepreneurs who started a sports business
  • commerce grew significantly as the city attracted business entrepreneurs
  • Adjective: entrepreneurial
  • his entrepreneurial skills
  • my past entrepreneurial attempts failed
  • his entrepreneurial spirit carried him through

erect

ɪˈrekt
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
to erect something means to build it
Verb
  • the monument was erected in 1928
  • high-rise blocks were erected in the east of the city
  • they have erected a security fence around the factory
  • trying to erect a tent
  • the old hospital buildings were demolished and new buildings erected
  • Noun: erection
  • the date of its erection is unclear
  • the erection of a new tower followed a year later

establishment

ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
an establishment is a business such as a restaurant or shop
Noun
  • the police targeted key establishments
  • a high-end establishment (one that is very expensive)
  • most establishments on this street sell basic goods such as foodstuffs
  • around 155 shops and eating establishments
  • restaurants, retail establishments and residential accommodation
  • the first commercial establishments here probably opened around 1905
  • other establishments sell watches and cheap jewellery

establishment

ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
an establishment is a business such as a restaurant or shop
Noun
  • a high-end establishment (one that is very expensive)
  • most establishments on this street sell basic goods such as foodstuffs
  • around 155 shops and eating establishments
  • restaurants, retail establishments and residential accommodation
  • the first commercial establishments here probably opened around 1905
  • other establishments sell watches and cheap jewellery

ever-increasing

ˈevə(r)ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
an ever-increasing number of things is continuing to grow and get larger
Adjective
  • ever-increasing numbers/quantity/amount
  • ever-increasing demand
  • an ever-increasing amount of military aid
  • the universe is expanding at an ever-increasing rate
  • ever-increasing house prices in London
  • an ever-increasing demand for cheap food

ever-increasing*

ˈevə(r) ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
something that is ever-increasing is continuing to grow in size or number
Adjective
  • ever-increasing numbers
  • ever-increasing demand
  • paying off an ever-increasing student loan
  • we’re using up fossil fuels at an ever-increasing rate
  • the ever-increasing price of houses in London
  • ever-increasing fuel bills
  • an ever-increasing number of visitors from abroad

everyday

ˈevriˌdeɪ
Upper Intermediate
pp110-111
everyday things and activities are very normal and not unusual in any way
Adjective
  • everyday life/experience/language
  • everyday activities/situations
  • everyday objects
  • everyday objects made of plastic rather than wood or metal
  • a language will not survive if it is not used in everyday life
  • the everyday activities of ordinary people
  • Twitter and Facebook are part of my everyday routine
  • there is beauty in normal, everyday happenings

excellence

ˈeksələns
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
excellence is the quality of being extremely good
Noun uncount
  • her academic excellence took her to a top school
  • he won an award for teaching excellence
  • our workforce is committed to excellence and achievement
  • high standards of excellence and professionalism
  • Adjective: excellent
  • Adverb: excellently
  • Verb: excel
  • excel at (doing) something
  • an excellent example of the rewards of careful research
  • her exam results were excellent
  • the symphony was excellently performed
  • he excelled at sports
  • Paul excels at making teams work together

excess

ˈekses
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
when you make a claim on an insurance policy, the excess is the amount of money you have to pay yourself, and the insurance company will pay the rest
Noun
  • a £100 excess
  • if your claim is for a laptop, there is a £75 excess fee
  • under most sections of the policy, claims will be subject to an excess

excessive

ɪkˈsesɪv
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
if you say that something is excessive, you mean that it seems to be more than is necessary or reasonable
Adjective
  • it all seemed a bit excessive
  • the amount seems a bit excessive
  • some people see the charges as excessive
  • police employed excessive violence during the arrest
  • the prices charged are often excessive
  • Adverb: excessively
  • Noun: excess
  • Adjective: excess
  • do something to excess
  • an excess of something
  • excessively high taxes
  • the film lasted an excessively long time
  • an excess of chemicals in the water
  • he drinks, but not to excess
  • cycling is a good way to lose excess weight

exclude

ɪkˈskluːd
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
to exclude someone or something means to deliberately stop them being part of a group or taking part in a particular activity
Verb
  • cheats are looked down on and excluded
  • no one should be excluded from sport
  • an attempt to exclude the press from the event
  • I felt a bit excluded
  • he’s been excluded from school (told to leave)
  • Noun: exclusion
  • the exclusion of some vital data from the report
  • her exclusion from school

exclusive

ɪkˈskluːsɪv
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
somewhere or something that is exclusive is available only for a small number of people, is usually very expensive, and is considered to be desirable or fashionable
Adjective
  • an exclusive restaurant
  • an exclusive range of cosmetics
  • exclusive clubs for the city's wealthy residents
  • an exclusive neighbourhood in the south of Mexico City
  • Noun: exclusiveness
  • Noun: exclusivity
  • this degree of comfort gives the customer a feeling of exclusiveness
  • production is limited to 375 units to maintain exclusivity

exhaustion

ɪɡˈzɔːstʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
exhaustion is a state of extreme tiredness
Noun uncount
  • suffer from exhaustion
  • complete/total exhaustion
  • physical/mental exhaustion
  • I immediately forgot all the pain and exhaustion
  • ended up collapsing with exhaustion
  • the birds died of exhaustion
  • was suffering from exhaustion and ill-health
  • everyone by then was in a state of complete exhaustion
  • Verb: exhaust
  • Adjective: exhausting
  • Adjective: exhausted
  • exhaust yourself
  • absolutely/totally exhausting
  • emotonally/mentally/physically exhausting
  • absolutely/totally exhausted
  • emotionally/mentally/physically exhausted
  • he had exhausted himself even before the concert started
  • an exhausting day
  • a mentally exhausting experience
  • events had left her physically and mentally exhausted
  • we finally arrived, exhausted but happy

existence

ɪɡˈzɪst(ə)ns
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
the existence of something is the fact that it exists in the world and is a real thing. A person’s existence is their life, especially when talking about what sort of life they have
Noun
  • be in existence
  • think critically about your previous existence
  • I led a miserable existence until I left home
  • she simply ignored my existence
  • the club was founded in 1895 and is still in existence
  • Verb: exist
  • Adjective: existing
  • Antonym – Adjective: non-existent
  • for weeks we existed on baked beans and bread
  • a traditional fishing industry still exists here
  • the rest of the existing building is modern
  • changing the existing system is difficult
  • facilities were bad or non-existent
  • traffic was practically non-existent after midnight

expanse

ɪkˈspæns
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
an expanse of land or water is a very large area of it
Noun
  • a vast/enormous/endless expanse (of something)
  • an endless expanse of forest
  • a tiny island in the expanse of the Pacific Ocean
  • an expanse of land to the south of the mountain
  • Adjective: expansive
  • Australia covers an expansive area
  • the clear waters and expansive beaches of the resort

expansion

ɪkˈspænʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
the expansion of something is an increase in its size
Noun
  • any expansion of the stadium will make things worse
  • they presented their businesses and plans for expansion
  • economic expansion slowed considerably in the 1970s
  • the company is set for a major expansion
  • suburbs began a rapid expansion and car ownership increased
  • Verb: expand
  • the business expanded dramatically
  • in the 1950s, the town expanded considerably

experiment

ɪkˈsperɪˌment
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
to experiment with something means to do a test on it in order to find out what happens
Verb
  • experiment with something
  • experiment on someone or something
  • they experimented with different types of brick
  • we need to experiment further
  • surgeons experimented on rabbits before using the technique on humans
  • Portugal briefly experimented with Continental Time in the 1990s
  • Noun: experiment
  • Adjective: experimental
  • Adverb: experimentally
  • Noun: experimentation
  • do/conduct/carry out/perform an experiment
  • an experiment shows/proves something
  • experimental methods/data/results
  • permission to conduct the experiment was granted
  • the experiment was a failure
  • the experiment showed no harmful effects of the drug
  • no changes were allowed during the experimental period
  • the experimental methods of Dr Hughes
  • an experimental research project
  • the theory cannot be tested experimentally
  • this can be demonstrated experimentally under laboratory conditions
  • experimentation is highly encouraged here
  • successful experimentation requires careful attention to detail

experimental

ɪkˌsperɪˈment(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
an experiment is a scientific test that you do to see what happens under certain conditions. Experimental art or music involves trying new methods in an attempt to create something completely different from what has gone before
Adjective
  • his paintings became more and more experimental
  • I was always attracted to experimental music
  • his creative process in doing art is mostly experimental

experimental

ɪkˌsperɪˈment(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
an experiment is a scientific test that you do to see what happens under certain conditions. Activities that you do like this are experimental
Adjective
  • experimental methods/data/results
  • no changes were allowed during the experimental period
  • the experimental methods of Dr Hughes
  • an experimental research project
  • the experimental nature of the scheme
  • the experimental results were encouraging
  • Noun: experiment
  • Verb: experiment
  • Adverb: experimentally
  • do/conduct/carry out/perform an experiment
  • an experiment shows/proves something
  • permission to conduct the experiment was granted
  • the experiment was a failure
  • the experiment showed no harmful effects of the drug
  • we need to experiment further
  • surgeons experimented on rabbits before using the technique on humans
  • the theory cannot be tested experimentally
  • this can be demonstrated experimentally under laboratory conditions

exploit

ɪkˈsplɔɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
to exploit something means to use it in a way that gives you an advantage or benefit
Verb
  • he escaped by exploiting the monster’s only weakness
  • the technique exploits developments in satellite technology
  • the coal could not be commercially exploited until a railway had been built
  • the country needs to exploit its rich mineral resources
  • Noun: exploitation
  • commercial exploitation of wind power is increasing

exploit

ɪkˈsplɔɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
to exploit someone means to treat them very unfairly so that you get a lot of benefit and they do not
Verb
  • ruthlessly/shamelessly exploit someone
  • he got rich by exploiting people
  • a country where the powerful exploit the powerless
  • Noun: exploitation Noun: exploiter
  • exploitation of women/children/workers
  • a government that failed to stop the exploitation of children
  • some four million people are subject to this level of exploitation
  • exploiters of cheap labour

extreme

ɪkˈstriːm
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
extreme means very great in degree or very severe in effect
Adjective
  • how would you define extreme poverty?
  • always exercise extreme caution when catching snakes
  • extreme cold kills twice as many people as extreme heat
  • Arkansas is known for extreme weather and many storms
  • such extreme temperatures can be a threat to health (very hot or very cold temperatures)
  • Adverb: extremely
  • an extremely difficult task
  • in November, the situation became extremely dangerous

eyesight

ˈaɪˌsaɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp48-49
your eyesight is how well you are able to see things
Noun uncount
  • carrots are supposed to be good for your eyesight
  • as we get old, our eyesight gets worse
  • Dennis has struggled with poor eyesight for years
  • exercises that can improve your eyesight

face

feɪs
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
if you face something dangerous or unwanted, if you are faced with it, or if it faces you, it is present and might cause harm to you
Verb
  • the hero is trapped and faces death
  • the council was faced with several difficult problems
  • the second major problem facing the country is the economy
  • the environmental issues facing the United Nations today
  • the music business is facing huge challenges from piracy and theft

facilitate

fəˈsɪləteɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
to facilitate a process or activity means to provide support for it so that it can happen more easily
Verb
  • technology is also facilitating new types of crimes
  • we aim to facilitate learning through collaboration with students
  • the Internet has greatly facilitated this process
  • sliding doors facilitate quick entry and exit
  • the new rail network facilitated the transport of goods across the country
  • the Internet is facilitating new collaboration between researchers
  • Noun: facilitation
  • instruction is simply the facilitation of another's learning

fail

feɪl
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
when something such as a machine or an important part of your body fails, it stops working properly
Verb
  • both engines failed within an hour of taking off
  • the brakes failed in the wet conditions
  • she was only 11 when her kidneys failed
  • Noun: failure
  • he pulled out of the race with engine failure
  • heart failure is a common cause of death
  • the probable cause was mechanical failure

faint

feɪnt
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
if you faint, you lose consciousness for a short time, for example because you are very hungry or too hot
Verb
  • she fainted from hunger
  • I think I’m about to faint
  • he used to faint at the sight of blood
  • she almost fainted with shock
  • he turned white and almost fainted

faint

feɪnt
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
if you faint, you become unconscious, for example because you are not well or because you are too hot or because you have had a strong emotional feeling
Verb
  • I think I’m going to faint
  • she almost fainted when she heard the news
  • he had never fainted in his life
  • she was the sort of girl who wouldn’t scream and faint in a crisis

fall apart

ˈfɔːl əˌpɑː(r)t
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
if something falls apart, it breaks into pieces because it is old or not well made
Phrasal verb
  • my shoes are falling apart
  • an old book that was falling apart
  • the suitcase just fell apart while I was packing it
  • their relationship fell apart (failed)

fancy

ˈfænsi
Upper Intermediate
pp136-137
if you refer to something as fancy, you mean that it looks fashionable or expensive
Adjective
  • he drives a fancy car
  • a fancy hotel in Mayfair
  • the sandwiches were quite plain, nothing fancy
  • a fancy jacket with gold buttons

fancy

ˈfænsi
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
if you fancy someone, you think they are attractive and you want to have a relationship with them
Verb
  • you could see he fancied her
  • they’ve fancied each other for ages
  • do you fancy him?
  • she’s a good friend, but I don’t fancy her

fare

feə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
the fare is the amount of money you have to pay for a particular journey on public transport or in a taxi
Noun
  • bus/train/air fare
  • one-way/return fare
  • standard/second class/first class fare
  • taxi/cab fare
  • the taxi fare to the hotel
  • an increase in train fares
  • the bus fares are quite cheap
  • trying to keep fares low
  • complaints about high fares
  • the return fare to New York is £475
  • the standard metro fare in Moscow is 40 roubles

fatal

ˈfeɪt(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
an illness or injury that is fatal will kill someone. A fatal problem or difficulty will have a very bad effect and cause someone or something to fail in what they are trying to do
Adjective
  • a fatal accident/crash
  • a fatal mistake
  • a fatal flaw
  • prove fatal
  • does the monster have a fatal flaw?
  • three fatal accidents happened over the weekend
  • Brian’s fatal mistake was to borrow more than he could afford
  • without medicine, his condition could prove fatal
  • Adverb: fatally
  • this economic model was fatally flawed
  • one of the men was fatally stabbed

fault

fɔːlt
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
if a bad situation or a mistake is your fault, you are responsible for causing it. When this happens, you can also say that you are at fault
Noun uncount
  • it was assumed that the customer was at fault
  • do we know whose fault it was?
  • it was an unfortunate incident, but the school was not at fault

feed

fiːd
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
to feed an addiction or to feed a strong need means to provide what is necessary to satisfy it, for example when someone gets drugs or drink when they are addicted or when they get money to gamble with
Verb
  • he needed money to feed his addiction
  • he will lie, cheat, or steal to feed his need for power and money
  • as a politician, he attempted to feed our need for simple answers
  • I realised he was using his dinner money to feed his gambling addiction

fellow

ˈfeləʊ
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
your fellow students or workers are the people you study with or work with
Adjective
  • I get on well with my fellow students
  • he was talking to some fellow passengers
  • his fellow countrymen
  • her fellow office workers
  • Noun: fellow
  • he was admired by his fellows in the medical profession

figure

ˈfɪɡə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
if you figure something, you guess it or come to believe it as a result of thinking about it
Verb
  • I figured it would take too long to walk, so took the car
  • they lost their best players but had their best season ever. Go figure! (it’s true even though it seems strange or unlikely)

figure

ˈfɪɡə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
a woman’s figure is the shape of her body
Noun
  • she had a good figure
  • if I eat too much I’ll lose my figure
  • No cake for me, thanks. I’m watching my figure (trying to keep a good shape)

filthy

ˈfɪlθi
Upper Intermediate
pp52-53
if something is filthy, it is extremely dirty
Adjective
  • the whole place was muddy and everything got filthy
  • a filthy T-shirt
  • his clothes looked filthy
  • the house was absolutely filthy
  • Noun: filth
  • everything was covered in filth
  • the whole place was full of filth and dirt

find your feet

ˌfaɪnd jɔː(r) ˈfiːt
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
if you find your feet, you gradually get to know about things in a new situation
Phrase
  • I’ve arrived in Hong Kong and I’m gradually finding my feet
  • Sophie eventually found her feet after a difficult first week at university
  • once you’ve found your feet you’ll wonder what you’d been worrying about

fine line

ˈfaɪn ˌlaɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
if there is a fine line between two qualities, they are very similar and one could easily become the same as the other. If you walk a fine line, you are in a situation where you have to be very careful not to do something you do not want to do
Phrase
  • a fine line between things
  • walk/tread a fine line
  • there is a fine line between reporting and opinion
  • the fine line between being cooked and overcooked
  • the script walks a fine line between realism and fantasy

finely

ˈfaɪnli
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
if you chop or shred something finely, you chop it or cut it into very small pieces
Adverb
  • chop the herbs really finely
  • finely shredded cabbage
  • fill each half with a finely chopped tomato
  • a tablespoon of finely chopped parsley
  • finely grate the ginger

finish

ˈfɪnɪʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
if something you eat or drink has a sweet finish, a sour finish, etc it leaves a sweet or sour taste in your mouth after the other flavours are forgotten
Noun singular
  • a squeeze of orange will give it a sweet finish
  • a white wine with a crisp, sweet finish
  • a refreshing fruity and delicately sour finish
  • the 2008 vintage has strong flavours and a meaty, savoury finish

fireworks display

ˈfaɪə(r)wɜː(r)ks dɪˌspleɪ
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
fireworks are devices that create colourful moving shapes and patterns in the sky. They use explosive chemicals and often make a loud noise when they are lit. Firework displays are large public events when lots of large and impressive fireworks are set off to celebrate occasions like New Year’s Day or Independence Day in the United States
Noun
  • a fireworks display/show
  • the fireworks started going off at 7 o’clock
  • a spectacular fireworks display
  • at midnight there was a big fireworks show
  • the fireworks exploded and nearly destroyed the building
  • never throw fireworks into a bonfire

fixture

ˈfɪkstʃə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
fixtures are things like baths, sinks, or door handles that are fixed in place, and that stay in a house when it is sold
Noun
  • fixtures and fittings
  • a factory producing bathroom fixtures
  • ceiling fans and overhead light fixtures
  • before selling the house, it's a good idea to repair or replace old or damaged fixtures
  • what fixtures and fittings are included in the sale? (all the fixed items in the house)

flame

fleɪm
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
a flame is the hot yellow or orange gas that you see when something is burning. If something is burning in an uncontrolled way, you can say that it is in flames
Noun
  • burst into flames
  • go up in flames
  • be engulfed in flames
  • the whole place was in flames
  • the plane crashed and burst into flames
  • the studio burned down and his latest paintings went up in flames (were destroyed in the fire)
  • the vehicle was engulfed in flames (burning so much that all you could see were the flames and not the vehicle)
  • the flames spread and set the curtains alight
  • firefighters succeeded in putting out the flames

flash

flæʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
if a light flashes or if someone flashes it, it goes on and off very quickly. If you flash your lights while you are driving, you turn your main lights on and off very quickly as a signal to another driver
Verb
  • I got flashed by a speed camera (the camera automatically photographed my car because I was going too fast)
  • she flashed her lights to tell me I could go
  • the warning light was flashing
  • lightning flashed across the sky
  • Noun: flash
  • a flash of bright light
  • a blinding flash of light (extremely bright)
  • a flash of lightning in the sky

flash

flæʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
Verb

flash

flæʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
a flash of light is a very sudden and bright light which appears and then disappears very quickly
Noun
  • there were incredible flashes of lightning
  • a flash of bright light
  • a blinding flash of light (extremely bright)
  • we saw a lightning flash before we heard the thunder
  • Verb: flash
  • the warning light was flashing
  • lightning flashed across the sky

flaw

flɔː
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
a flaw is a slight fault in something. If a person has a flaw, they have a particular weakness or fault in their character
Noun
  • a fatal flaw
  • the monster has a fatal flaw (a weakness that will definitely lead to failure)
  • John had some serious character flaws
  • a fundamental design flaw (a problem with something as a result of its design rather than its manufacture)
  • there were several obvious flaws in his plan
  • Adjective: flawed
  • Adjective: flawless
  • the reasoning was seriously flawed
  • the hero of the story is a deeply flawed character
  • her performance was almost flawless
  • a flawless scheme that was bound to succeed

flesh

fleʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
the flesh of fish or meat is the part that you can eat, not the bones or fat. You can also talk about the flesh of fruit or vegetables to describe the inside part, not the skin or the stone
Noun singular
  • the flesh should come away from the bones easily
  • the fruit has a pale yellow flesh
  • fish should smell fresh and have firm flesh
  • the flesh was sweet and juicy
  • Adjective: fleshy
  • fleshy fruits about the size of a small olive
  • the berries are deep red and fleshy when fresh

flexibility

fleksəˈbɪləti
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
your flexibility is your ability to bend and move your body
Noun uncount
  • doing yoga really helps your flexibility
  • improve your flexibility
  • maintain your flexibility
  • we need more flexibility in the workplace (the ability to make changes easily)
  • Adjective: flexible
  • I’m not flexible enough to touch my toes
  • employees need to be flexible these days (able to make changes easily)

flick through

ˈflɪk θruː
Upper Intermediate
pp136-137
if you flick through a magazine or newspaper, you turn the pages over quickly, looking to see if there is anything interesting, but not reading any of it closely. If you flick through the channels on a television, you go quickly from one channel to another, watching for only a short time, trying to find a programme that you want to watch properly
Phrasal verb
  • she was flicking through the channels
  • he spent an hour flicking through sports websites
  • she was curled up in the armchair, flicking through a book
  • I'd been flicking through a couple of magazines when he arrived
  • Christina flicked through her diary
  • Noun: flick through
  • I was just having a quick flick through
  • I went into the library for a flick through of the morning paper
  • a quick flick through of the channels suggested there was nothing interesting on

flick through

flɪk θruː
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
if you flick through a magazine or newspaper, you turn the pages over quickly, looking to see if there is anything interesting, but not reading any of it closely. When someone is doing this, you can say they are having a flick through
Noun
  • I was just having a quick flick through
  • I went into the library for a flick through of the morning paper
  • a fast flick through revealed the story was on page 43
  • Phrasal verb: flick through
  • she was curled up in the armchair, flicking through a book
  • I'd been flicking through a couple of magazines when he arrived
  • Christina flicked through her diary

float

fləʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
if you are floating, you are lying on water without sinking
Verb
  • police are investigating after a body was discovered floating in a river
  • can you float?
  • I tried to float but was scared of sinking
  • the boat floated out into the channel

float

fləʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
if something floats, it rests on the surface of a liquid and does not sink
Verb
  • it will float to the surface
  • a plastic bag floated in the water
  • don’t struggle – just relax, and you’ll float
  • the logs floated down the river

flood

flʌd
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
a flood is an occasion when large amounts of water pour into an area, for example after there has been a lot of very heavy rain or if a water pipe bursts. If you get floods of something unwanted, a large quantity of it arrives
Noun
  • there’ve been a lot of floods with all this rain
  • the village was cut off by floods
  • the flood water rose rapidly overnight
  • the need for better flood defences
  • they had floods of complaints when it was first sold
  • she was in floods of tears (crying a lot)
  • Verb: flood
  • fears that the river could flood
  • thousands of homes are now flooded
  • the river broke its banks and flooded the village
  • we were flooded with orders in the run-up to Christmas
  • the radio station was flooded with complaints from listeners
  • his inbox is flooded with more than 200 emails per day

flood

flʌd
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
if an area floods, large amounts of water pour in, for example after there has been a lot of very heavy rain or if a water pipe bursts. If you are flooded with things that arrive in large numbers, you get so many of them that it is difficult to deal with them all
Verb
  • we were flooded with orders in the run-up to Christmas
  • the radio station was flooded with complaints from listeners
  • his inbox is flooded with more than 200 emails per day
  • this question has flooded social media
  • Noun: flood
  • the village was cut off by floods
  • they had floods of complaints when it was first sold
  • she was in floods of tears (crying a lot)

flood

flʌd
Upper Intermediate
pp52-53
if an area floods, large amounts of water pour in, for example after there has been a lot of very heavy rain or if a water pipe bursts
Verb
  • the whole area was flooded
  • fears that the river could flood
  • thousands of homes are now flooded
  • the river broke its banks and flooded the village
  • Noun: flood
  • Noun: flooding
  • the village was cut off by floods
  • the flood water rose rapidly overnight
  • the need for better flood defences
  • flooding caused extensive damage to the school
  • the town experienced its worst flooding since 2003

fog

fɒɡ
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
fog is a thick cloud that forms close to the ground
Noun singular
  • thick/dense fog
  • fog lifts/clear
  • fog comes down/descends
  • thick fog
  • hopefully the fog will lift soon
  • a dense fog had descended on the area
  • we couldn’t see anything through the fog
  • Adjective: foggy
  • foggy weather
  • a foggy day/morning/night
  • it was a cold and foggy morning
  • the weather tomorrow will be foggy, with rain in the afternoon

fool

fuːl
Upper Intermediate
pp48-49
if you call someone a fool, you mean you think they are stupid and do stupid things. If you say you made a fool of yourself, you mean that you did something stupid
Noun
  • I’m scared of making a fool of myself
  • she was trying to make a fool of me
  • don’t be a fool
  • what a fool I’ve been
  • Adjective: foolish
  • Adverb: foolishly
  • Noun: foolishness
  • it was foolish to set off when it was still raining
  • he was afraid of looking foolish
  • what he did was utterly foolish
  • I foolishly agreed to go with him to Paris
  • you behaved foolishly last night
  • it was foolishness that made me do it
  • the foolishness of his remarks

format

ˈfɔː(r)mæt
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
the format of something such as a radio or television programme is the way the different parts of it are put together and presented in a certain order
Noun
  • the format of something
  • other broadcasters copied the show’s format
  • the format of the course is 10 hours tuition per week
  • the show returned a year later in a slightly different format

forthcoming

fɔː(r)θˈkʌmɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
a forthcoming event has been planned and is due to happen soon
Adjective
  • she talked about her forthcoming trip
  • the forthcoming general election
  • their forthcoming wedding
  • the forthcoming Rembrandt exhibition

fortune

ˈfɔː(r)tʃuːn
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
a fortune is a large amount of money
Noun
  • cost/spend/pay a fortune
  • earn/make a fortune
  • be worth a fortune
  • he spent an absolute fortune on his cars
  • the house must be worth a small fortune now (a surprisingly large amount of money)
  • your salary is a fortune compared to mine
  • he made a fortune on the stock market

found

faʊnd
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
to found an institution means to start it and provide the money it needs to become established
Verb
  • the RSPCA was founded in 1824
  • the company was originally founded in 1923
  • Noun: founder
  • the founders intended the school to take both boys and girls
  • his grandfather was one of the founders of the organisation

frank

fræŋk
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
if you are frank, you say exactly what you believe in a clear, honest, and truthful way
Adjective
  • be frank (about something)
  • be frank with someone
  • to be frank, I’d never really thought about it
  • she was quite frank about the affair
  • a frank exchange of views (an argument)
  • I’ve always been frank with you (told you the truth)
  • Adverb: frankly
  • Noun: frankness
  • quite frankly, I'm bored with the whole thing
  • frankly speaking, I don't know my neighbours at all
  • she answered his questions frankly and cheerfully
  • he talked about his past with complete frankness
  • the frankness of her reply surprised him

fraud

frɔːd
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
fraud is the crime of telling lies or deceiving people in order to gain money for yourself
Noun uncount
  • commit fraud
  • a victim of fraud
  • he was sent to prison for tax fraud
  • credit card fraud
  • identity fraud (pretending to be someone else to get money)
  • he admitted to committing fraud in his suicide note
  • the missing businessman was being hunted by the fraud squad (the police department that investigates cases of fraud)
  • the fraud was detected in early 2014
  • Adjective: fraudulent
  • Adverb: fraudulently
  • Noun: fraudster
  • Verb: defraud
  • defraud someone of something
  • she made a fraudulent insurance claim
  • fraudulent business activities
  • he fraudulently claimed for train fares
  • a convicted fraudster
  • remember: the fraudsters are very skilled at answering your every objection
  • he had been accused of defrauding church members in New Jersey
  • clients of the firm had been defrauded of around £40 million

fraud

frɔːd
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
fraud is the crime of telling lies or deceiving people in order to gain money for yourself
Noun
  • commit fraud
  • a victim of fraud
  • he was sent to prison for tax fraud
  • credit card fraud
  • identity fraud (pretending to be someone else to get money)
  • he admitted to committing fraud in his suicide note
  • the missing businessman was being hunted by the fraud squad (the police department that investigates cases of fraud)
  • the fraud was detected in early 2014
  • Adjective: fraudulent
  • Adverb: fraudulently
  • Noun: fraudster
  • Verb: defraud
  • defraud someone of something
  • she made a fraudulent insurance claim
  • fraudulent business activities
  • he fraudulently claimed for train fares
  • a convicted fraudster
  • remember: the fraudsters are very skilled at answering your every objection
  • he had been accused of defrauding church members in New Jersey
  • clients of the firm had been defrauded of around £40 million

fraudulent

ˈfrɔːdjʊlənt
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
fraud is the crime of deliberately deceiving people in order to get money from them. Fraudulent activity is based on a lie and deliberately tries to deceive people, especially in order to get money from them
Adjective
  • fraudulent activities/practices
  • a fraudulent claim
  • a fraudulent insurance claim
  • fraudulent and illegal arrangements
  • unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent practices
  • Adverb: fraudulently
  • Noun: fraud
  • Noun: fraudster
  • Verb: defraud
  • the money had been fraudulently obtained
  • a fraudulently signed contract
  • he was sent to prison for tax fraud
  • he admitted to committing fraud
  • a convicted fraudster
  • he had been accused of defrauding church members in New Jersey

freeze

friːz
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
when something freezes, it becomes hard because it is so cold. When people freeze, they get very uncomfortable because it is extremely cold. You can also say that you are freezing or that a place is freezing when it is very cold
Verb
  • I thought I was going to freeze to death
  • it’s freezing in here
  • it’s freezing outside
  • the water in the lake had started to freeze
  • put the heater on. I’m freezing
  • Adjective: frozen
  • Adverb: freezing
  • a frozen river
  • frozen vegetables
  • the weather was wet and freezing cold

friction

ˈfrɪkʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
if there is friction between people, there is unfriendliness or disagreement between them
Noun
  • there was friction between the two sisters
  • the usual frictions between parents and teenagers
  • money was a source of friction between them
  • Eric refused to give it back, and that's where the friction arose

frown on

ˈfraʊn ˌɒn
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
to frown on something or to frown upon it means to disapprove of it
Phrasal verb
  • such displays of affection are frowned on here
  • some people still frown on divorce
  • smoking in the park is frowned upon

frustration

frʌˈstreɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
frustration is the feeling you have when there are problems which you cannot solve because you cannot control events
Noun
  • we have a moan and share our frustrations
  • he screamed out loud in pure frustration
  • Rose was weeping with fear and frustration
  • angry customers took to Twitter to voice their frustration
  • Verb: frustrate
  • Adjective: frustrating
  • Adjective: frustrated
  • it really frustrates me that I can’t drive with a broken arm
  • they were so frustrated that the university was taking so long to respond
  • we spent a frustrating afternoon looking for the keys
  • the application process was highly frustrating

fuel

ˈfjuːəl
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
fuel is material such as coal, gas or petrol that is used to make heat or light or to provide power for machines. If a machine is fuel-efficient, it works well and does not waste fuel while it is working
Noun uncount
  • fossil/nuclear fuel
  • solid fuel
  • aviation fuel
  • airlines pay no tax on aviation fuel (fuel that powers aeroplanes)
  • an increase on fuel duty (tax that you pay on petrol)
  • damage to the planet caused by burning fossil fuels (coal, gas or oil which comes out of the ground)
  • we ran out of fuel
  • very good fuel consumption (the amount of fuel a car uses)
  • the fuel tank
  • domestic fuel bills
  • Verb: fuel
  • the use of uranium to fuel nuclear power stations

fulfil

fʊlˈfɪl
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
if you fulfil a duty or obligation, you succeed in doing what is necessary
Verb
  • we will be able to fulfil all our orders before Christmas (deliver all the goods that have been ordered)
  • on top of his research, he had to fulfil his normal teaching duties
  • the school made sure it fulfilled its legal obligations
  • Noun: fulfilment
  • we can't guarantee fulfilment of last minute requests

fulfil

fʊlˈfɪl
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
to fulfil a duty, requirement, or obligation means to succeed in doing or providing what is necessary
Verb
  • these plots fulfil a deep psychological need for moral order
  • we will be able to fulfil all our orders before Christmas (deliver all the goods that have been ordered)
  • on top of his research, he had to fulfil his normal teaching duties
  • the school made sure it fulfilled its legal obligations
  • Noun: fulfilment
  • we can't guarantee fulfilment of last minute requests
  • this was the fuflilment of the promise made two years ago

full

fʊl
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
if a machine is on full, it is working at its maximum capability
Adverb
  • the air-conditioning is on full
  • Phrase: full blast
  • they played music at full blast all night

fume

fjuːm
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
fumes are gases and smoke from fires, burning chemicals, car engines etc, that are unhealthy and unpleasant to breathe, and that can make people feel unwell
Noun
  • toxic/poisonous fumes
  • petrol/diesel/exhaust/traffic fumes
  • asthma is made worse by the exhaust fumes
  • chemicals which give off nasty fumes
  • a petrol engine producing poisonous fumes
  • a cloud of toxic fumes
  • he was overcome by fumes (made unconscious by them)

funeral

ˈfjuːn(ə)rəl
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
a funeral is the ceremony that takes place when someone who has recently died is put into the ground, or when their body is burned
Noun
  • hold a funeral
  • attend a funeral
  • a state funeral
  • her funeral will be held on Wednesday
  • Otto's funeral was organised by his sons Karl and George
  • her funeral was attended by 150 family and friends
  • a state funeral (a funeral organised by the government for a very important person)
  • Adjective: funeral
  • a funeral service
  • the funeral service was simple and moving
  • the funeral procession went from Westminster to St Paul’s Cathedral

gamble

ˈɡæmb(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp128-129
to gamble means to risk money in the hope of winning more money. To gamble also means to do something that has risks and will only be successful if certain things happen
Verb
  • I don’t gamble at casinos
  • people are gambling with their lives
  • we were gambling that he’d be back in time
  • typically, he gambles most of his wages within a couple of days
  • he doesn’t smoke, drink, or gamble
  • Noun: gamble
  • Noun: gambler
  • Noun: gambling
  • a big/huge gamble
  • a desperate gamble
  • take a gamble
  • be a bit of a gamble
  • I knew it was a bit of a gamble
  • calling an early election was a huge political gamble
  • his gamble paid off (was successful)
  • Ross risked everything on a last gamble
  • the company was taking a considerable gamble
  • a support group for compulsive gamblers (people who cannot stop gambling)
  • his luck as a gambler had been extraordinary
  • horse racing is about more than just gambling
  • gambling is a potentially addictive behaviour
  • online gambling has become more strictly regulated

gamble

ˈɡæmb(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
to gamble means to do something that involves risk. It also means to risk money in an attempt to win more money
Verb
  • gamble on something
  • gamble with something
  • if you go abroad for treatment, you are gambling with your health
  • he’s gambling that the product will be popular
  • I’ve never been tempted to gamble on horse racing
  • Noun: gamble
  • Noun: gambling
  • Noun: gambler
  • deciding to go ahead with the event was a gamble
  • it was a big gamble
  • he took a gamble and it paid off (was successful)
  • people who disapprove of gambling
  • a compulsive gambler (a gambler who cannot stop gambling)

gap

ɡæp
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
a gap is a hole in something solid, where something is missing. If you think something is missing from a situation, you can say there is a gap there
Noun
  • fill a gap
  • a gap widens/narrows
  • to exploit a gap in the market (start to sell a product that no one else is selling)
  • the $23 billion financing gap was filled
  • a skills gap (when there are not enough skilled workers to meet the demand)
  • there are huge gaps in my knowledge of physics
  • taking up yoga filled a gap in my life

gather

ˈɡæðə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
to gather things means to collect them. To gather crops means to take them from the fields or places where they are growing and bring them indoors to be stored or eaten
Verb
  • we’re off to gather mushrooms
  • the harvest was all gathered in by the end of the month
  • they lived by hunting and fishing and gathering plants and seeds
  • we’ve gathered quite a lot of information
  • the police are still gathering evidence
  • he hastily gathered his things together and left

gather

ˈɡæðə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
if people gather somewhere, they all come together there for a particular purpose
Verb
  • gather round/around
  • family and friends usually gather outside the town hall to take photos
  • crowds started gathering outside the palace at dawn
  • we gathered round and waited for the announcement
  • Noun: gathering
  • a select gathering (only people who were invited)
  • a family gathering
  • public gatherings were banned
  • an international gathering of surgeons

gaze

ɡeɪz
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
if you gaze at something, you look at it for a long time
Verb
  • I sat there gazing out of the window
  • he lay on his bed gazing at the ceiling
  • she was gazing into space
  • he gazed thoughtfully at the painting
  • Noun: gaze
  • my gaze was fixed on the letter
  • he lowered his gaze (looked down)

gear

ɡɪə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
the gears on a car or bicycle are the bits of machinery that control the way the energy is changed into movement
Noun
  • high/low gear
  • change gear
  • first/second etc. gear
  • reverse gear
  • forward gears
  • in gear
  • out of gear
  • start off in first gear
  • he changed gear before braking hard at the corner
  • leave the car in gear if you’re only stopping for a few seconds, otherwise take it out of gear
  • he drove off with a great crashing of gears

gender

ˈdʒendə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
someone’s gender is whether they are male or female
Noun uncount
  • the company was accused of gender discrimination
  • discrimination on the grounds of gender
  • are there gender differences in attitudes to work? (do men and women think differently about work?)
  • it’s important to combat gender stereotypes

generate

ˈdʒenəreɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
to generate something means to make it happen and develop
Verb
  • take advantage of the interest we’ve generated
  • the region generates its income mainly through agriculture
  • questions that generated helpful discussions
  • techniques designed to generate even more visits to their website
  • Noun: generation
  • daily generation of refuse exceeds two kilos per person

genetic

dʒəˈnetɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
your genes are the parts of the cells in your body that control how you grow and develop. Genes are passed on from parents to children. All humans, animals, and plants have genes. Genetics is the study of genes and the way they influence us. You use genetic when talking about things that relate to genes and genetics
Adjective
  • research suggests the condition is genetic
  • such genetic changes can cause cancer
  • genetic modification has been possible for many years now
  • some bacteria also transfer genetic material between cells
  • genetic engineering (artificially altering the genes of a person, animal, or plant)
  • Noun: genetics
  • Noun: gene
  • Adverb: genetically
  • genetically modified/engineered
  • she studied genetics for many years
  • the current understanding of human genetics
  • the variation between individual humans is controlled by genes
  • gene therapy (treatment of a disease by modifying someone’s gene)
  • genetically modified crops (plants that have had their genes artificially altered)
  • humans are genetically related to many other animals

gesture

ˈdʒestʃə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp110-111
a gesture is a movement you make with your arms or body as a way of saying something, either instead of speaking or at the same time as you are speaking
Noun
  • an angry/rude gesture
  • a hand gesture
  • make a gesture
  • the waiter didn’t speak English so we used hand gestures
  • he made a gesture for me to sit down
  • he held up his hand in an angry gesture
  • she made a gesture towards the armchair
  • Verb: gesture
  • gesture to/towards/at something
  • gesture for someone to do something
  • she gestured for me to follow her outside
  • the policeman gestured at me to get out of the car
  • “Look” he said, gesturing towards the painting

get away with

ɡet əˈweɪ wɪð
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
if you get away with a crime or with doing something wrong, you are not caught and don't get punished for it
Phrasal verb
  • he can’t keep getting away with it
  • it’s too risky, you’ll never get away with it
  • his mum lets him get away with murder (doesn’t punish his bad behaviour)
  • he robbed a bank and got away with it

get away with

ɡet əˈweɪ wɪð
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
if you get away with a crime or with doing something wrong, you are not caught and punished for it
Phrasal verb
  • he can’t keep getting away with it
  • it’s too risky, you’ll never get away with it
  • his mum lets him get away with murder (doesn’t punish his bad behaviour)
  • he robbed a bank and got away with it

get hold of

ˌɡet ˈhəʊld ɒv
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
if you get hold of something, you manage to find it or obtain it and can use it for yourself
Phrase
  • somehow, they got hold of my bank details
  • it’s relatively easy to get hold of this information
  • a reporter got hold of the story and next day it was on the front page

get lost

ˌɡet ˈlɒst
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
if you tell someone to get lost, you are telling them forcefully to go away
Phrase
  • I had to tell him to get lost
  • I wish he’d just get lost
  • why don’t you just get lost?
  • go on – get lost!

get over

ˌɡet ˈəʊvə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
if you get over an illness or other problem, you become better again and things are back to normal
Phrasal verb
  • it took a few days to get over my jet lag
  • she still hadn’t got over her husband’s death
  • he hasn’t got over the shock yet
  • I had flu, but I’ve got over the worst of it now

get-together

ˈɡet ˌtəˈɡeðə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp88-89
a get-together is a party you have with friends or family
Noun
  • a small get-together
  • an informal get-together
  • a family get-together
  • an annual get-together
  • we have an annual get-together every June in Plymouth
  • a family get-together at my brother’s house
  • an informal get-together at her old school
  • Phrasal verb: get together
  • we must get together after Christmas
  • it’s the first time we’ve been able to get together for nearly three years

glimpse

ɡlɪmps
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
if you get a glimpse of something or someone, you see them for a very short time
Noun
  • catch/get a glimpse of someone/something
  • I caught a glimpse of the stadium from the train
  • she got a brief glimpse of the eagle as it flashed by
  • we got a glimpse of the sea
  • people queued up for a glimpse of the star
  • Verb: glimpse
  • I glimpsed a man walking past the house
  • she was sure he was the man she had glimpsed earlier that evening

globalisation

Upper Intermediate
pp108-109

globalisation

ˌɡləʊbəlaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
globalisation is the increasing way in which large companies can operate all over the world instead of in just one country, and in which people can move easily from one country to another when they want something that they can’t get in their own country
Noun uncount
  • economic globalisation
  • cultural globalisation
  • increasing globalisation
  • the increasing globalisation of world trade
  • a positive response to the globalisation of our industry
  • the principal agents of economic globalisation are major business corporations
  • economic globalisation implies a great deal more than the development of extensive trade links
  • Verb: globalise
  • Adjective: globalised
  • production has been increasingly globalised
  • in another step towards globalising education, the university opened a campus in China
  • industries which failed to adapt to the globalised market
  • our globalised 24-hour news culture
  • the globalised economy

glued

ɡluːd
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
glue is something you use to stick things together so they can't move. If you say that your headphones are glued to your ears, you mean that they are always there and don't move. Or if you say you are glued to the TV or your seat, you mean that you don't move because what you're watching is so exciting
Verb
  • be glued to something
  • he’s been glued to his desk all day
  • I was glued to the radio and Internet news reports
  • we were glued to the screen
  • Charlie sat glued to the bar stool
  • the pages were cut and then glued together
  • Noun: glue
  • strong/thick glue
  • a jar of glue
  • use colourless glue if you can

go off

ˌɡəʊ ˈɒf
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
if a bomb, weapon, or other explosive device goes off, it explodes
Phrasal verb
  • the device went off near the station
  • the bomb could go off off at any minute
  • I was worried the gun might go off accidentally
  • I could hear fireworks going off

good cause

ˌɡʊd ˈkɔːz
Upper Intermediate
pp128-129
good causes are activities, organisations, and charities that operate without money from the government and that people think do a useful job for society
Noun
  • it's a fundraiser for a good cause
  • all the money raised will be donated to a good cause
  • the business raised over £25,000 for good causes last year

gorgeous

ˈɡɔː(r)dʒəs
Upper Intermediate
pp52-53
someone or something that is gorgeous is extremely enjoyable, beautiful, or attractive
Adjective
  • absolutely/utterly gorgeous
  • drop dead gorgeous
  • don’t you think George Clooney is just gorgeous?
  • she was young, single, and drop dead gorgeous (extremely gorgeous)
  • what a gorgeous gown you’re wearing
  • those flowers are gorgeous
  • you look gorgeous in that dress
  • Adverb: gorgeously
  • the sauce was gorgeously rich and creamy
  • the rooms are gorgeously decorated, clean and comfortable

grab

ɡræb
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
if you grab something, you take hold of it quickly and roughly
Verb
  • grab hold of something
  • he grabbed my bag and ran off
  • she grabbed hold of the branch to stop herself from falling
  • he grabbed the knife and stabbed the burglar in the leg
  • Julie suddenly grabbed his arm
  • Noun: grab
  • he made a grab for my purse

grab

ɡræb
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
if you grab something such as food or a drink, you take it from somewhere very quickly, especially because you are in a hurry
Verb
  • there’s no time for lunch; I’ll grab a sandwich at the station
  • can you grab me a coffee while I make a call?
  • she grabbed a can of Coke on her way into the lecture

grace

ɡreɪs
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
grace is kind and polite behaviour
Noun uncount
  • with good/bad grace
  • have the grace to do something
  • accept the offer with good grace
  • they took their defeat with bad grace
  • at least she had the grace to admit she was wrong
  • Adjective: gracious
  • Adverb: graciously
  • Adjective: graceful
  • Adverb: gracefully
  • Adjective: graceless
  • Adverb: gracelessly
  • he was gracious in defeat
  • an English gentleman with his gracious wife and beautiful family
  • he graciously accepted our invitation
  • she stayed behind and graciously answered journalists’ questions
  • he spoke a few graceful words by way of a thank-you
  • she gracefully accepted his offer
  • he wanted to say something kind so as not to seem sullen or graceless
  • "no", he said gracelessly, already halfway to the door

grand

ɡrænd
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
if something is grand, it is big and impressive
Adjective
  • the houses looked very grand
  • a grand public building
  • he’s got grand plans
  • two grand staircases go up to the top floor
  • Noun: grandeur
  • the 18th century grandeur of the palace
  • the hotel has many modern facilities whilst keeping its Victorian grandeur

grave

ɡreɪv
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
someone’s grave is the place where their body is buried
Noun
  • an unmarked grave
  • a shallow grave
  • a mass grave
  • we visit her grave every weekend
  • police have found a body in a shallow grave
  • a freshly-dug grave
  • a mass grave (with a large number of bodies)
  • somewhere in an unmarked grave lay her grandfather (a grave with no indication of who is buried in it)

greed

ɡriːd
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
greed is the quality of always wanting more of something than you need, especially food or money
Noun uncount
  • in an ideal world, there would be no greed or violence
  • financial crime is motivated by pure greed
  • there will always be human greed
  • personal greed is just another aspect of human nature
  • Adjective: greedy
  • Adverb: greedily
  • she’s quite greedy when it comes to chocolate
  • he was in the kitchen, greedily finishing the last of the stew

gripping

ˈɡrɪpɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
if something is gripping, it is extremely exciting
Adjective
  • a gripping tale/story/drama/novel
  • the film was absolutely gripping
  • a really gripping ending
  • a gripping account of how the battle was fought
  • it's his best and most emotionally gripping story yet
  • Verb: grip
  • Adjective: gripped
  • the story really grips you from the very start
  • we were all gripped by the TV reports

groom

ɡruːm
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
at a wedding, the groom is the man who is getting married
Noun
  • here’s a toast to the bride and groom
  • on the day, the groom is not meant to see his bride before the ceremony
  • the bride and groom were followed by the best man and the bridesmaid
  • Synonym: bridegroom
  • they returned to the bridegroom's house for the reception

ground

ɡraʊnd
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
the ground you cover in a discussion is the range of subjects and ideas you discuss
Noun uncount
  • familiar/safe/old/new ground
  • cover/go over ground
  • there may be some middle ground where you can compromise
  • don’t go over old ground
  • we covered quite a lot of ground
  • we seemed to go over the same ground lots of times
  • her book goes over rather familiar ground

guarantee

ˌɡærənˈtiː
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
a guarantee is a formal promise by the maker of a product to repair or replace it if it breaks or does not work properly. Guarantees usually last for a certain number of years
Noun
  • come with a guarantee
  • be under guarantee
  • the washing machine came with a three-year guarantee
  • it’s a good idea to keep the guarantee
  • it’s still under guarantee (the guarantee still applies to it)
  • it was expensive, but has a lifetime guarantee (the guarantee will last for ever)
  • Verb: guarantee
  • all our cars are fully guaranteed for 12 months
  • the wood is all guaranteed against rot (the makers promise that it will not rot, and will replace it if it does)

hack

hæk
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
if someone hacks a computer or hacks into a computer system, they get into it illegally, often to steal valuable or important information
Verb
  • it’s easy for someone to hack into your account if you don’t have a strong password
  • somebody hacked into the company servers over the weekend
  • an attempt to hack the Pentagon’s computers
  • Noun: hacker
  • Adjective: hacked
  • formerly a hacker, he now works for a computer security firm
  • money was taken from a hacked bank account

halt

hɔːlt
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
a halt is when something stops moving or happening. If something or someone comes to a halt, they stop moving and become still
Noun singular
  • come to a halt
  • put a halt to something
  • call a halt (to something)
  • it eventually came to a halt on a cloud
  • the train came to a sudden halt
  • the economy seems to be grinding to a halt
  • the police were unable to put a halt to the gang’s activities
  • I suggest we call a halt to this stupid argument
  • it is better to call a halt now before the situation gets out of contriol
  • Verb: halt
  • they want to halt the experiments
  • work on the new bridge has been halted by protestors
  • the search for survivors has now halted

hand in

hænd ɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if you hand in something such as your homework, you give it to your teacher. If you hand in your resignation or your notice, you tell your employer that you are going to leave your job
Verb
  • hand in your homework/your resignation/your notice/a petition
  • she handed in her resignation
  • a petition was handed in at the town hall

handle

ˈhænd(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
if you handle a difficult situation, you deal with it successfully and make sure that everything works out well; if you handle a situation badly, you are not able to control it and further problems develop
Verb
  • handle a situation (well/badly)
  • we can learn to handle them better
  • they are fully trained and ready to handle the problems that might arise
  • it's a situation I believe I can handle, given a bit of time
  • how do you think he'll handle the pressure of being prime minister?
  • things might have been handled a bit better if we'd seen the report earlier
  • student discipline has to be handled with care

handle

ˈhænd(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp26-27
a handle is the part of a device or tool that you hold in your hand when you are using it or if you have to pick it up
Noun
  • you could use the handle of the wooden spoon
  • the handle of the drying pan was too hot to hold
  • a plastic bucket with a metal handle

hands up

ˈhændz ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp84-85
teachers say hands up when they want students to put their arm up in the air to show that they are ready to answer a question or have done something that was expected. Speakers also say hands up when they want to get some information from their audience
Phrase
  • hands up who can remember when Shakespeare was born
  • I need a volunteer to take this to the headteacher; hands up
  • hands up those of you who are from Mexico

hang

hæŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if you get the hang of something that is difficult or complicated, you learn how to do it
Noun
  • you’ll soon get the hang of it
  • I haven’t quite got the hang of it
  • he never got the hang of it

hang

hæŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
if you say that someone’s mouth was hanging open, you mean the look on their face showed that they were extremely surprised or impressed by something
Verb
  • I sat gazing out of the window with my mouth hanging open
  • the sisters were looking at me, their mouths hanging open
  • her mouth hung open in amazement

hang up

ˈhæŋ ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp26-27
if you hang something up, you put it somewhere so that the top of it is attached to something like a wall or a hook, and the rest of it can move freely
Phrasal verb
  • I washed my clothes and hung them up to dry
  • hang your coat up in the hall, then come through
  • she hung up her hat and sat down

harm

hɑː(r)m
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
harm is the bad effect of an action or damage caused by the action
Noun uncount
  • cause/do/inflict harm
  • significant/serious/irreparable/untold harm
  • changing your diet now will do more harm than good
  • I didn’t mean any harm
  • an increased risk of harm
  • you risk untold harm to your liver (extremely serious harm)
  • there’s a risk that the child will suffer serious harm unless action is taken
  • Adjective: harmful
  • Adjective: harmless
  • deeply/positively/extremely harmful
  • potentially harmful
  • environmentally harmful
  • a harmful substance/effect
  • harmful emissions
  • completely/perfectly/relatively harmless
  • seemingly harmless
  • environmentally harmful farming methods
  • alcohol is a potentially harmful substance
  • higher taxes risk having a harmful effect on the car industry
  • he looks very fierce but he’s quite harmless
  • most of these substances are relatively harmless
  • a bit of harmless fun

harshly

hɑː(r)ʃli
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
if you treat someone harshly, you treat them in a very cruel or unkind way
Adverb
  • the prisoners are treated very harshly
  • he felt he’d been punished too harshly
  • Brady was harshly criticised for his actions
  • Adjective: harsh
  • everyone thought the sentence was harsh and unfair
  • he imposed strict rules and harsh punishments on his followers

harvest

ˈhɑː(r)vɪst
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
harvest is the process of collecting crops from the fields where they have been growing. A harvest is all the crops once they have been collected
Noun
  • better farming techniques will lead to better harvests
  • the weather stayed fine throughout the harvest
  • the harvest takes between 10 and 30 days
  • after three weeks, the harvest was all gathered in
  • the wheat harvest yielded 2,500 tons of grain
  • there was a record harvest in 2014 (the biggest amount ever was collected)
  • Verb: harvest
  • boys were released from school to help the farmers harvest their crops
  • the crop was harvested early to make room for summer vegetables

hatred

ˈheɪtrɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
hatred is a very strong dislike for someone or something
Noun uncount
  • deep/intense hatred
  • have a hatred of (doing) something
  • stir up hatred
  • hatred for someone
  • faces filled with hatred
  • an intense hatred for his father
  • he has a hatred of the police that will never leave him
  • those who stir up hatred between nations
  • Verb: hate
  • Adjective: hateful
  • hate doing something
  • hate to do something
  • we hated to give them any encouragement
  • she hated being away from home for so long
  • it was all the fault of that hateful man

hazard

ˈhæzə(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
a hazard is something that is dangerous and might cause damage to someone or something
Noun
  • a fire hazard
  • a health hazard
  • pose a hazard
  • constitute a hazard
  • his house became a fire hazard (it risked causing a fire)
  • it had become a health hazard
  • an occupational hazard (one that you face as part of a job)
  • the chemicals pose a hazard to human health
  • firefighters face a lot of hazards
  • this poses hazards to the life and health of miners
  • moisture constitutes a hazard for buildings and their occupants
  • Adjective: hazardous
  • hazardous chemicals
  • a hazardous job
  • flying through through the storm was especially hazardous
  • hazardous waste has to be treated very carefully

heal

hiːl
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
if a wound or a broken bone heals or if something heals it, it recovers and becomes well again
Verb
  • it took several weeks for the wound to heal
  • give it time and it will heal itself
  • she was healed by the latest medical treatment
  • Noun: healing
  • the healing process
  • these herbs are known to have healing properties

healthcare

ˈhelθkeə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
healthcare is a system that provides medical treatment for people. Some healthcare systems are private, and people have to pay for them, but some countries provide healthcare for all citizens and pay for it out of taxes
Noun uncount
  • state-provided healthcare
  • in America, healthcare is mostly private
  • the new procedure is safer for healthcare workers
  • the demand for healthcare services is increasing
  • providers and consumers of healthcare
  • inadequate provision of healthcare
  • politicians endlessly debating the costs of healthcare

healthy

ˈhelθi
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
a healthy attitude or approach to something is normal and sensible
Adjective
  • a healthy attitude/approach
  • we have a healthier and more open attitude to death these days
  • Amanda has a healthy attitude to life and doesn’t worry about unimportant things
  • a healthy respect for law and order
  • a healthy dislike of daytime TV
  • a healthy outcry against corruption
  • Antonym: unhealthy
  • an unhealthy fascination with guns

heating

ˈhiːtɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
heating is the process of providing warmth to a building
Noun
  • the heating system was dangerous
  • we pay £40 a month for the heating
  • rent is £700 and heating is extra
  • a cenral heating system
  • Verb: heat
  • how much does it cost to heat this place?

heavens

ˈhev(ə)nz
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
if you talk about the heavens, you are referring to the sky
Noun plural
  • the heavens open
  • seconds later, the heavens opened and it started pouring with rain
  • the sun moved slowly across the heavens
  • the heavens darkened and the rain came down
  • white clouds were dotted about the heavens

heavens

ˈhev(ə)nz
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
if you talk about the heavens, you mean the sky and all the mysterious things that might be up above us
Noun plural
  • the bundle disappeared up into the heavens
  • the heavens were lit up with flashes of lightning
  • if there are no clouds tonight, you’ll see the spaceship up in the heavens

hectic

ˈhektɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp142-143
if things are hectic, you are very busy and have to deal with lots of different things very quickly
Adjective
  • a hectic lifestyle
  • at a hectic pace
  • a hectic day/week/month
  • she leads a really hectic life
  • life continues at a hectic pace on the farm
  • high-stress jobs and hectic lifestyles
  • another hectic day at the office
  • work has been hectic for months
  • this week has been pretty hectic
  • Adverb: hectically
  • leading a hectically busy life
  • I’ve been working hectically trying to meet the deadline

herd

hɜː(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
a herd of animals is a large group of them together. Typically, cows and elephants live in herds
Noun
  • a herd of cattle/cows/elephants
  • he kept chickens and a herd of cows
  • a large herd of elephants
  • a dairy herd (a herd of cows that are kept for their milk)
  • Verb: herd
  • she learnt to herd cattle on her brother’s farm
  • he spent his childhood herding goats for his father
  • It’s like herding cats (it’s an impossible task)

heritage

ˈherɪtɪdʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
a country's heritage is its cultural traditions that have developed over a long time, its important and historical buildings, and its sense of its own history
Noun uncount
  • a rich heritage
  • a national/cultural heritage
  • preserve/protect one’s heritage
  • people should appreciate their own heritage
  • it’s important to protect our national heritage
  • buildings that are part of our heritage
  • the country’s rich cultural heritage
  • trying to preserve their Scottish heritage

heritage

ˈherɪtɪdʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp128-129
a country's heritage is its cultural traditions that have developed over a long time, its important and historical buildings, and its sense of its own history
Noun uncount
  • a rich heritage
  • a national/cultural heritage
  • preserve/protect one’s heritage
  • it’s important to protect our national heritage
  • buildings that are part of our heritage
  • the country’s rich cultural heritage
  • trying to preserve their Scottish heritage

hi-tech

ˈhaɪtek
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
hi-tech equipment and systems use the latest, best, and most modern technology available
Adjective
  • hi-tech equipment/weapons/devices
  • hi-tech systems
  • hi-tech computers
  • hi-tech products made in China
  • the growth of high-tech industries (industries that use or produce hi-tech equipment)
  • a contract for the sale of £2bn of hi-tech weapons
  • Noun: hi-tech
  • Noun: high technology
  • increased production will rely on high technology
  • what is the effect of high technology on levels of employment?

hideous

ˈhɪdiəs
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
something that is hideous is extremely ugly or horrible
Adjective
  • a hideous modern building
  • she looks hideous in that dress
  • how could anyone compose such hideous music?
  • Adverb: hideously
  • his face was hideously deformed
  • they’re hideously expensive (extremely expensive)

highlight

ˈhaɪˌlaɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
the highlights of an event or experience are the best and most exciting or interesting aspects of it
Noun
  • the highlights of something
  • the highlight of the trip was the day spent in the Hermitage
  • highlights of the festival will include a concert in the Town Hall
  • among the highlights were cookery demonstrations by a top chef

highlight

ˈhaɪˌlaɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
if you highlight something, you talk or write about it in a way that draws special attention to it because you think it is an important part of what you are saying
Verb
  • highlight issues/concerns/areas
  • psychologists highlight several stages that nearly everyone goes through
  • the report highlights four key trends in youth crime
  • the minister was right to highlight the issue
  • she also highlighted concerns about late-night traffic noise

highlight

ˈhaɪˌlaɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp84-85
if you highlight something, you talk or write about it in a way that draws special attention to it because you think it is an important part of what you are saying
Verb
  • highlight issues/concerns/areas
  • the report highlights four key trends in youth crime
  • the minister was right to highlight the issue
  • she also highlighted concerns about late-night traffic noise

hilarious

hɪˈleəriəs
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
something that is hilarious is extremely funny
Adjective
  • the film was hilarious
  • hilarious YouTube clips
  • the entire speech was hilarious, from start to finish
  • a hilarious joke
  • Adverb: hilariously
  • Noun: hilarity
  • it was hilariously funny
  • the woman laughed hilariously and gave him a kiss on the cheek
  • his accent was the cause of much hilarity

hip

hɪp
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
your hips are the two bones at the side of your body, just below your waist
Noun
  • narrow/slim hips
  • wide hips
  • an artificial hip
  • a hip replacement
  • a hip operation
  • Christopher is going into hospital for a second hip operation
  • he had broad shoulders and narrow hips
  • she waited over a year for a hip replacement (an operation to replace the natural hip with an artificial one)
  • Alyssia placed her hands on her hips and stared angrily at him
  • he put his wallet in his hip pocket (a pocket at the back of a pair of trousers)

historic

hɪˈstɒrɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
a building or event that is historic was important in the past
Adjective
  • a historic building/landmark/site
  • many historic buildings were destroyed in the fire
  • the entire district is listed as a national historic landmark
  • he has already restored several historic houses

honour

ˈɒnə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
to honour someone or something is to do something that shows your respect for them or for what they have done
Verb
  • knowing about history, and honouring the dead is very important
  • I shall honour her memory for ever
  • five firefighters were honoured for their bravery yesterday (were given a medal as a reward)
  • a ceremony honouring all who fought in two world wars

horn

hɔː(r)n
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
a horn is a device that makes a loud noise as a warning, for example in a car
Noun
  • drivers are constantly sounding their horns in the street
  • all cabins contain radios and alarm horns
  • passing drivers honked their horns in support when they saw our banners

house

haʊz
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
to house something means to be the building where that thing is or where it operates from
Verb
  • the old police station now houses an art gallery
  • almost all public libraries now house a computer lab
  • the cathedral houses the oldest church organ in Europe
  • the building now houses offices, classrooms and seminar rooms
  • the office was housed temporarily in old government buildings

humanity

hjuːˈmænəti
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
humanity refers to all the people in the world, and the ability of anyone to behave in a sympathetic and kind way
Noun uncount
  • common humanity
  • poverty is an affront to our common humanity
  • the concept of universal humanity or universal brotherhood
  • global warming is the greatest threat facing humanity
  • Adjective: human
  • Noun: human
  • human spirit
  • human behaviour
  • human error
  • human rights
  • throughout human history
  • a result of human activity
  • the study of human society
  • the ancestors of modern humans

hunger

ˈhʌŋɡə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
hunger is the state of wanting to eat because you have not had enough food. In extreme cases, hunger can cause death
Noun uncount
  • hunger is still a major problem
  • global efforts to reduce poverty, hunger and disease
  • wolves, in cases of extreme hunger, will eat their puppies
  • too many still suffer homelessness and hunger
  • Adjective: hungry
  • go hungry
  • feel hungry
  • he spotted a hungry bear watching him
  • close to a billion people go hungry every day
  • I didn’t feel hungry

hygiene

ˈhaɪdʒiːn
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
hygiene is keeping things clean in order to prevent illnesses
Noun uncount
  • good/proper hygiene
  • oral/dental hygiene
  • personal hygiene
  • poor food hygiene
  • his personal hygiene is terrible! (he doesn’t wash or brush his teeth enough)
  • good dental hygiene
  • very high standards of hygiene
  • hygiene training for food handlers
  • good standards of hygiene in the canteen are crucial
  • Adjective: hygienic
  • Antonym: unhygienic
  • poor hygienic conditions helped the disease spread
  • everything in the kitchen should be clean and hygienic
  • this is not a very hygienic system of food preparation
  • many restaurants in the city were found to be unhygienic
  • living in cold, unhygienic conditions

identification

aɪˌdentɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
if you have identification with you, you have an official document that proves who you are, such as a passport, a driving licence etc.
Noun uncount
  • carry identification
  • show/produce identification
  • an identification card
  • a form of identification
  • do you have some form of identification with you?
  • report to a police station with a form of identification
  • if you can’t produce identification, we can’t let you join the library
  • will you accept a gas bill as identification?

impact

ˈɪmpækt
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
the impact of an event is the sudden and serious effect it has on a situation
Noun
  • a major/enormous/significant impact
  • a negative/serious/disastrous impact
  • have an impact
  • an impact on something
  • the environmental impact of heavy traffic in city centres
  • a significant impact on the price of oil
  • unemployment is known to have a negative impact on health
  • this will have a measurable impact on passenger numbers
  • Verb: impact
  • impact on something
  • impact something
  • the cuts will certainly impact on service delivery
  • working shorter hours will impact negatively on their career progression
  • these decisions could impact the lives of thousands of people

implication

ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
the implications of something are the things that are likely to happen or become important as a result of it
Noun
  • implications of something
  • implications for something
  • the case has wider implications for customer services
  • this research has important practical implications
  • the new regulations have serious implications for British agriculture
  • in this blog post he examines the implications of the delay
  • Verb: imply
  • the ability to read does not necessarily imply the ability to write
  • these findings strongly imply that Henderson was at the scene

impose

ɪmˈpəʊz
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
if something is imposed on people, they have to accept it even if they do not want to
Verb
  • impose something on someone
  • impose a fine/punishment/penalty
  • impose a condition/deadline/limit
  • impose a ban
  • he urged the army to impose more rigid controls
  • the judge imposed a deadline of midnight
  • there can be no justification for imposing limits on the amounts that can be spent
  • Noun: imposition
  • the imposition of something (on someone)
  • the imposition of a fine or imprisonment
  • the imposition of import controls

impression

ɪmˈpreʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
if you get an impression about something, you get a feeling about it or form an opinion about it
Noun
  • get an impression (about something)
  • give someone an impression
  • leave someone with an impression
  • a first/initial impression
  • a wrong impression
  • a good/bad impression
  • a vivid impression
  • I got the impression that someone had died
  • I got the distinct impression (the very strong impression) that we weren’t welcome
  • I don’t want to give you the wrong impression
  • it left me with the impression that she’s not very happy
  • what was your first impression of her?
  • the painting gives a vivid impression of London in 1850 childhood?

in short

ɪn ˈʃɔː(r)t
Upper Intermediate
pp84-85
you say in short to introduce an explanation that is a shorter or more general version of what you have just said
Phrase
  • we need to cut down on manufacturing, driving, heating... in short, anything that burns carbon

inadequate

ɪnˈædɪkwət
Upper Intermediate
pp110-111
if something is inadequate, there is not enough of it, or it is not of good enough quality
Adjective
  • prove inadequate
  • feel inadequate
  • totally inadequate
  • £200 is a totally inadequate sum for fixing the car
  • an inadequate supply of qualified teachers
  • the new facilities proved to be wholly inadequate
  • if you feel alone and inadequate, call a friend
  • Noun: inadequacy
  • Antonym: adequate
  • perfectly adequate
  • quite adequate
  • barely/hardly adequate
  • prove adequate
  • the inadequacy of the welfare programme
  • a fear of failure and inadequacy
  • such feelings of guilt and inadequacy are common
  • an adequate supply of fresh water
  • a lack of adequate health care
  • the heating was barely adequate
  • as a teacher, he proved more than adequate

inch

ɪntʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
an inch is a measurement of length, equal to about 2.54 centimetres
Noun
  • a narrow ledge only about eight inches wide
  • a six-inch ruler
  • we were only inches away from hitting the lorry
  • half an inch of rain fell last night
  • every inch of the wall was covered in posters and postcards
  • Phrasal verb: inch forward
  • the queue inched forward (moved forward very slowly)

incident

ˈɪnsɪd(ə)nt
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
an incident is something that happens, often something that is slightly shocking or unusual
Noun
  • an incident happens/occurs
  • a violent incident
  • the incident left him feeling very disappointed
  • the incident happened shortly before 7 yesterday morning
  • police emphasised this was only an isolated incident
  • several violent incidents occurred in the city centre
  • two more unfortunate incidents took place outside the station

incident

ˈɪnsɪd(ə)nt
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
an incident is something that happens, often something that is slightly shocking or unusual
Noun
  • an incident happens/occurs
  • a violent incident
  • the police tried to discourage such incidents
  • the incident left him feeling very disappointed
  • the incident happened shortly before 7 yesterday morning
  • police emphasised this was only an isolated incident
  • several violent incidents occurred in the city centre
  • two more unfortunate incidents took place outside the station

inconsiderate

ˌɪnkənˈsɪdərət
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
someone who is inconsiderate does not care if their actions have a bad effect on other people’s feelings or needs
Adjective
  • be inconsiderate of someone (to do something)
  • it was very inconsiderate of him to play his music so loudly
  • inconsiderate motorists
  • a problem with inconsiderate neighbours
  • Adverb: inconsiderately
  • how could she behave so inconsiderately?
  • residents are requested not to park inconsiderately

independently

ˌɪndɪˈpendəntli
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
if you do something independently, you do it yourself and do not allow anyone else to organise it or help you with it
Adverb
  • she recovered enough to return home and carry on living independently
  • I am planning to travel independently to India next year
  • do you prefer to work independently or as part of a team?
  • Adjective: independent
  • Noun: independence
  • gain/achieve independence
  • lose independence
  • at the age of 22, he was finally independent of his parents
  • an attempt to become more economically independent
  • with independence comes responsibility
  • if he loses his job, he’ll lose his independence
  • she gained some independence by taking a job
  • at camp you'll make new friends, learn new things, and gain some independence

indicate

ˈɪndɪkeɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
if you indicate while you are driving, you use the flashing lights on your car to tell other drivers that you are going to move to the right or to the left
Verb
  • indicate right/left
  • she indicated right and moved across to the outside lane
  • he turned left down an alley without indicating
  • make sure you indicate before you start slowing down
  • Noun: indicator
  • the indicator is a rod on the steering column
  • the indicator clicks to remind you that it’s still on

inheritance

ɪnˈherɪt(ə)ns
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
your inheritance is money that you get from someone after they die
Noun
  • claim an inheritance
  • receive an inheritance
  • she is struggling to win back her rightful inheritance
  • he received a small inheritance from his father
  • Jake briefly returned home to claim his inheritance
  • she accused him of trying to steal her inheritance
  • he left them an inheritance of over £30 million
  • she’ll come into her inheritance when she’s 21 (she will receive it)
  • Verb: inherit
  • will your nephew inherit the farm when you die?
  • his only daughter inherited his land
  • when the old man dies, who will inherit?

initial

ɪˈnɪʃ(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
an initial idea or action is one that comes at the beginning of a situation, and which later changes
Adjective
  • the initial ban was introduced in 2006
  • the police made an initial breakthrough
  • the initial stages of the illness
  • his initial reaction was positive
  • after an initial success, the business failed in 2009
  • initial estimates placed total damage in the area at £40m
  • Adverb: initially
  • initially, I didn’t enjoy the job
  • the company was quite successful initially
  • Williams was initially reluctant but eventually agreed to the proposal

initiative

ɪˈnɪʃətɪv
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
an initiative is an important new plan
Noun
  • the launch of a new initiative aimed at getting young people off the streets
  • a new initiative for peace
  • the government has announced a new education initiative
  • we welcome the UN initiative in Somalia
  • I hope that the other parties will also support this initiative
  • none of these business initiatives was particularly successful
  • Verb: initiate
  • the government initiated market reforms
  • a modernisation programme was initiated in 1990

innovative

ˈɪnəveɪtɪv
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
something that is innovative involves the use of new ideas to create something that is original
Adjective
  • an innovative approach to traffic management
  • the new packaging has an innovative design
  • it was a highly innovative product when it was launched
  • his ideas did not seem very innovative
  • Verb: innovate
  • Noun: innovation
  • Noun: innovator
  • all organisations need to constantly innovate and learn
  • those who do not innovate will simply not survive
  • the industry grew rapidly thanks to the latest innovations
  • technological innovations came rapidly as the 20th century advanced
  • Ron was an innovator – an “ideas” man
  • we need to identify the next generation of innovators

insanity

ɪnˈsænəti
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
insanity is a serious mental condition in which someone’s behaviour is very strange and prevents them from living normally
Noun uncount
  • he pleaded not guilty on the grounds of temporary insanity
  • legal insanity is a very narrowly defined state
  • the divide between insanity and criminality
  • there is a fine line between genius and insanity
  • Adjective: insane
  • no person who is insane may give evidence in court
  • a year later he was certified insane

insight

ˈɪnsaɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
an insight is a clear way of understanding something
Noun uncount
  • insight into something
  • an experience which gave her insight into the struggle of farmers
  • the film provides invaluable insights into their lives
  • his writing lacks insight
  • she’s got a lot of insight into this problem
  • the book gives a real insight into the causes of the war
  • his words provide valuable insight on this subject
  • Adjective: insightful
  • the book is well written and insightful
  • she writes a highly insightful blog

insight

ˈɪnsaɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
an insight is a clear way of understanding something
Noun
  • insight into something
  • a new insight that helped make him a better person
  • an experience which gave her insight into the struggle of farmers
  • the film provides invaluable insights into their lives
  • his writing lacks insight
  • she’s got a lot of insight into this problem
  • the book gives a real insight into the causes of the war
  • his words provide valuable insight on this subject
  • Adjective: insightful
  • the book is well written and insightful
  • she writes a highly insightful blog

insight

ˈɪnsaɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
an insight is a clear way of understanding something
Noun
  • insight into something
  • research will provide invaluable insights
  • an experience which gave her insight into the struggle of farmers
  • his writing lacks insight
  • she’s got a lot of insight into this problem
  • the book gives a real insight into the causes of the war
  • his words provide valuable insight on this subject
  • Adjective: insightful
  • the book is well written and insightful
  • she writes a highly insightful blog

insole

ˈɪnˌsəʊl
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
an insole is a soft layer of material the same shape as your shoe, which you put inside your shoe and which lies under your foot
Noun
  • one of his shoes had an insole missing
  • further cushioning is provided by the padded insoles
  • to help shoes dry out more quickly, take any insoles out

inspiring

ɪnˈspaɪərɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
something or someone that is inspiring makes you excited and strongly interested and enthusiastic
Adjective
  • an inspiring teacher
  • his inspiring leadership was directly responsible for the company's success
  • one of the most inspiring speeches I have ever heard
  • a ship under full sail is a glorious and inspiring sight
  • an inspiring message of hope for the future
  • Verb: inspire
  • Adjective: inspired
  • her passion inspires both students and other teachers
  • this inspired me to live a better life
  • the coloured envelopes were an inspired idea
  • it was an inspired performance by the goalkeeper

instability

ˌɪnstəˈbɪləti
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
if there is instability, a situation is likely to change suddenly
Noun uncount
  • political/economic instability
  • emotional instability
  • the problem is not just instability but a lack of skills
  • several years of political instability and civil war
  • things that can cause economic instability
  • I was worried about her emotional instability
  • signs of mental instability
  • Adjective: unstable
  • Antonyms – Noun: stability
  • Adjective: stable
  • an unstable economy
  • the situation is still unstable
  • she seems a bit unstable at the moment
  • the weather has been a bit unstable this autumn
  • economic stability increased
  • these challenges may threaten stability in much of the world
  • the economy was thought to be stable up until 2008
  • children need a stable environment

integration

ˌɪntɪˈɡreɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
integration is the process in which people gradually become part of a new society or group
Noun uncount
  • integration into something
  • integration into a new culture
  • the country’s integration into the EU took years
  • policies that encourage social integration
  • we’re in favour of greater integration
  • Verb: integrate
  • they soon became integrated into the local community
  • they’ve integrated very well

integrity

ɪnˈteɡrəti
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
integrity is great honesty and a refusal to do anything that you do not believe is right
Noun uncount
  • great integrity
  • personal integrity
  • moral integrity
  • artistic integrity
  • with integrity
  • it’s rare to find people of that integrity in Hollywood
  • he had a high degree of personal integrity
  • they were expected to act with integrity at all times
  • balancing artistic integrity with commercial considerations

intention

ɪnˈtenʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
if you have an intention to do something, you have decided that you want to do it
Noun
  • an intention to do something
  • an intention of doing something
  • have/be full of good intentions
  • announce/express an intention
  • he came in full of good intentions
  • protestors entered the building with the deliberate intention of damaging it
  • buying a new car wasn’t my original intention
  • she announced her intention to stand in the election
  • Verb: intend
  • Adjective: intentional
  • Adverb: intentionally
  • intend to do something
  • intend someone to do something
  • Walker had originally intended to compete in five races
  • the comment was evidently intended as an insult
  • this website is intended for personal research
  • I couldn’t tell if it was accidental or intentional
  • intentional misconduct is when someone deliberately hurts you
  • you should never intentionally harm another person
  • the range of topics was intentionally broad

interact

ˌɪntərˈækt
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
to interact with other people means to have contact with them and communicate with them
Verb
  • prisoners are able to meet and interact with members of the general public
  • kids learn through playing and interacting
  • I enjoy interacting with my readers very much
  • most of the families knew each other and interacted socially
  • Noun: interaction
  • social interaction
  • interaction between people
  • do you think mobile phones help social interaction?
  • there was little interaction between band members on stage

interfere

ˌɪntə(r)ˈfɪə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
if you interfere, you become involved in a situation when your help or advice is not wanted. An interfering person interferes a lot
Verb
  • interfere in something
  • stop interfering!
  • I wish you wouldn’t interfere in my business
  • Noun: interference Adjective: interfering
  • interference in/with something
  • we cannot accept any interference in our internal procedures
  • try and ignore his interference
  • an interfering neighbour

interpretation

ɪnˌtɜː(r)prɪˈteɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
your interpretation of something is the particular way you choose to understand it. If something is open to interpretation, different people are likely to understand it in several different ways
Noun
  • I think the book’s open to interpretation
  • what’s your interpretation of the novel?
  • that’s one possible interpretation
  • poetry invites alternative interpretations from readers
  • the story has several possible interpretations
  • Verb: interpret
  • it’s difficult to interpret dreams accurately
  • how do you interpret his behaviour?

interrupt

ˌɪntəˈrʌpt
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
if you interrupt someone, you start talking while they are saying something so that they cannot finish what they were saying
Verb
  • be rudely interrupted
  • be constantly/repeatedly interrupted
  • I’m sorry to interrupt, but could you take a look at this?
  • can I just briefly interrupt?
  • don’t interrupt me when I’m speaking
  • I hate being interrupted when I’m working
  • as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted
  • the speech was constantly interrupted by protestors
  • Noun: interruption
  • constant/frequent/repeated interruptions
  • there were constant interruptions
  • I ignored the interruption and carried on

intimate

ˈɪntɪmət
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
something that is intimate is about a person’s private life
Adjective
  • an intimate painting of the duke’s family at home
  • an intimate friend of the artist
  • did they have an intimate relationship (a sexual relationship)?
  • the newspaper published intimate details of his private life
  • Adverb: intimately
  • Noun: intimacy
  • they know each other intimately (they know personal details about each other)
  • things he only talked about in the intimacy of the home

intimidation

ɪnˌtɪmɪˈdeɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
intimidation is behaviour that deliberately tries to frighten someone, often in order to make them do something they do not want to do
Noun
  • intimidation of laboratory staff
  • they endured years of intimidation
  • using various intimidation tactics
  • reports of violence and intimidation were widespread
  • a campaign of terror and intimidation
  • Verb: intimidate
  • Adjective: intimidating
  • intimidate someone into doing something
  • they tried to intimidate him into confessing
  • an attempt to intimidate voters
  • there was an intimidating atmosphere in the building
  • he was a large dog, and very intimidating

invade

ɪnˈveɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
when an army invades a country, it goes in there and uses force to take control of the country
Verb
  • Germany invaded Poland at the start of the Second World War
  • Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812
  • England was last invaded in 1066
  • Noun: invasion
  • Adjective: invading
  • Noun: invader
  • there was an allied invasion of Sicily in 1943
  • the planned invasion was cancelled at the last minute
  • the invading arny turned south towards the capital
  • the invading forces numbered 1.5 million men
  • the invaders took control of the entire country within weeks
  • the abbey at Whitby was destroyed by Danish invaders in 867

invariably

ɪnˈveəriəbli
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
if you say that something invariably happens or is invariably the case, you mean that it always happens or is always the case
Adverb
  • they would invariably waive any charge
  • power invariably means both responsibility and danger
  • smoking is invariably associated with low scholarship
  • he invariably wore grey trousers
  • this invariably happens when we go to Margate
  • Adjective: invariable
  • the speed of light is invariable (it never changes, so is always the same)
  • this is not an invariable rule

investigation

ɪnˌvestɪˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
if someone carries out an investigation into something, they examine all the facts that they can find about it in order to decide exactly what happened, if anyone is to blame, and what action they need to take
Noun
  • an investigation into something
  • an investigation is underway
  • an ongoing investigation
  • a thorough investigation
  • conduct/launch/carry out an investigation
  • be under investigation
  • the police made such a mess of the investigation
  • by evening, a full scale police investigation was underway
  • the problem was discovered as a result of an ongoing investigation
  • a thorough investigation into the issue was launched a few days ago
  • both men found themselves under criminal investigation
  • Verb: investigate
  • Noun: investigator
  • Adjective: investigative
  • specialists were called in to investigate the causes of the explosion
  • the police are now investigating a possible fraud
  • the accident needs to be thoroughly investigated
  • crash investigators concluded that the pilot had fallen asleep
  • investigators searched the house for the murder weapon
  • investigative journalism (reporting that goes into a lot of detail and reveals a lot of facts about an important issue)
  • they promised to cooperate in the independent investigative process

investment

ɪnˈves(t)mənt
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
investment is the use money for an activity which you hope will have a good effect, either because it will help create something useful, or because it will make money for you. An investment is also something you buy which you hope will increase in value over the years
Noun
  • private/public investment
  • foreign/inward investment
  • the whole area needs renovation and investment
  • they encourage foreign investment
  • large investments are also necessary in the electricity industry
  • the government is actively promoting private investment in clean technology
  • a poor investment, likely to achieve only a 6% return
  • Verb: invest
  • Noun: investor
  • the plan requires investing £50m over five years
  • government invested heavily in the development of the road network
  • the business needs to attract more investors
  • investor confidence is currently high

involvement

ɪnˈvɒlvmənt
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
someone’s involvement in an activity is the fact of their taking part in it
Noun uncount
  • involvement in something
  • it’s been criticised for its involvement in politics
  • he denied any involvement in the robbery
  • her continued involvement is due to her strong belief in the project
  • the prince's involvement had helped bring in more volunteers to the organisation
  • Verb: involve
  • Adjective: involved
  • you shouldn’t involve yourself in these matters
  • after retirement, I involved myself in a number of projects
  • I got involved in research while at university
  • there are lots of after-school clubs, so there’s no excuse not to get involved

inward

ˈɪnwə(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
inward actions or movements are directed towards the centre of something. Inward investment is investment made in one country by people and companies from other countries
Adjective
  • inward migration
  • inward investment
  • Over that period, inward migration to the UK fell by 42,000 to 536,00
  • the government lowered taxes in an attempt to attract inward investment

isolated

ˈaɪsəˌleɪtɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp52-53
an isolated place does not have other houses, towns, or cities nearby
Adjective
  • the camp site was quite isolated
  • living in an isolated rural area
  • Hawk has explored some of the most remote and isolated places in the world
  • we rented an isolated farmhouse in Normandy
  • Noun: isolation
  • in isolation
  • their culture survived, because they lived in relative isolation
  • railways and telegraphs broke down the geographical isolation

itchy

ˈɪtʃi
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
if part of your body feels itchy, it is uncomfortable and you want to scratch your skin to stop it feeling like that
Adjective
  • an itchy scalp/rash
  • itchy skin
  • I soon felt dirty and itchy
  • the rash will be itchy, but try not to scratch it
  • they also had itchy skin, fever, and loss of appetite
  • a sore throat, a runny nose and an itchy scalp
  • Noun: itch
  • Verb: itch
  • Noun: itchiness
  • I’ve got an itch just here, where I can’t scratch it
  • his scalp wasn’t itching any more
  • the itchiness should go away if you use this cream

jackpot

ˈdʒækˌpɒt
Upper Intermediate
pp128-129
the jackpot is the biggest amount of money that can be won in a single game or lottery. You can say that someone has hit the jackpot when they are suddenly very lucky or successful
Noun
  • win the jackpot
  • hit the jackpot
  • the jackpot is 30 million euros
  • a ticket matching all six numbers won the jackpot
  • there was no winner for this week's $13 million jackpot
  • the largest individual jackpot ever won on the UK lottery was over £22m
  • he hit the jackpot when he got that job
  • I seem to have hit the jackpot!

jail

dʒeɪl
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
a jail is a building where prisoners live until they are released at the end of their punishment
Noun
  • send someone to jail
  • be in jail
  • a jail sentence
  • the judge sent him to jail for four years
  • she’s been in jail since January
  • he got out of jail last week
  • a jail sentence of five years
  • Verb: jail
  • Noun: jailer
  • he was jailed for five years
  • the hijacker was jailed by Cuban authorities
  • he threatened to jail the union leader if the strike did not end
  • the jailer slammed the door and locked it

jail

dʒeɪl
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
to jail someone means to send them to prison and keep them there for a length of time that has been decided by a judge in a court
Verb
  • the fall in crime stems from jailing more people
  • he was jailed for five years
  • the hijacker was jailed by Cuban authorities
  • he threatened to jail the union leader if the strike did not end
  • Noun: jail
  • Noun: jailer
  • send someone to jail
  • be in jail
  • a jail sentence
  • the judge sent him to jail for four years
  • she’s been in jail since January
  • he got out of jail last week
  • a jail sentence of five years
  • the jailer slammed the door and locked it

jealousy

ˈdʒeləsi
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
jealousy is the feeling of anger you have when someone you like or love seems to be starting a close relationship with someone else
Noun uncount
  • she was overcome with jealousy and fear
  • the crime was fuelled by jealousy
  • he felt no jealousy when he saw them together
  • Lisa’s jealousy was aroused by Patrick’s behaviour towards Jennifer
  • Adjective: jealous
  • Adverb: jealously
  • be jealous of someone
  • a jealous husband
  • Dan was jealous of his sister and her friends
  • he watched her jealously as she walked through the restaurant

join in

ˈdʒɔɪn ˌɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
if you join in an activity that other people are doing, you start to take part in it along with the others
Phrasal verb
  • we joined in the fun
  • come and join in!
  • everyone joined in the celebrations
  • when the dancing started, she was too shy to join in

joy

dʒɔɪ
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
joy is great happiness
Noun uncount
  • I never feel joy about anything any more
  • for Gordon, the evening was sheer joy
  • come and experience the joy of singing in a choir
  • I felt a great joy when I heard the news
  • Adjective: joyful
  • Adverb: joyfully
  • Adjective: joyous
  • staying there was a unique and joyful experience
  • the ballet was a joyful celebration of life
  • we chatted joyfully all evening
  • he was joyfully welcomed home by his mother
  • it was a joyous occasion
  • they burst into joyous laughter

judge

dʒʌdʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
in some sports, such as diving, gymnastics, or boxing, judges are people who decide how many points a competitor should receive
Noun
  • the judges made some really dubious decisions
  • judges award points for technique
  • in boxing, points are awarded by three corner judges
  • the judges gave him maximum points for his second dive

judgement

ˈdʒʌdʒmənt
Upper Intermediate
pp136-137
your judgement is your opinion about the quality of something. If you pass judgement on something, you say publicly what your opinion is
Noun
  • pass judgement (on something)
  • make a judgement
  • in my judgement
  • he came to the restaurant to pass judgement on the food
  • in my judgement, two hours practice a day is not enough
  • just use your own judgement to decide whether to buy it or not
  • he showed very poor judgement in his choice of partner
  • it’s too soon to make a judgement about the school
  • it’s a judgement call (a decision which you have to make yourself using your judgement because there is no right or wrong way to decide)
  • Adjective: judgemental
  • I’m tired of listening to all these judgemental parents (parents who are very quick to make critical comments)

junior

ˈdʒuːniə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp128-129
in some professions and organisations, the people who are just starting their careers or who have the lowest rank are called juniors because they do not have much experience and cannot do the most important tasks
Noun
  • he’s still a junior in the firm
  • the office junior

keen

kiːn
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
you use keen to emphasise the way someone’s senses work very well. For example, someone who has keen eyesight can see very well, and a keen observer is someone who notices the important things about what they are watching and who understands them very well
Adjective
  • a keen observer of human behaviour
  • he had a keen eye for small details
  • dogs have a keen sense of smell
  • a successful pilot must have keen eyesight
  • Adverb: keenly
  • Noun: keenness
  • they were keenly aware of the danger that lay ahead
  • he was keenly observant of everything that happened in the school
  • he sat up, listening keenly to the voices in the next room
  • they followed the news with the greatest keenness

keep up

ˈkiːp ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp48-49
if you keep something up, you carry on doing it for a certain length of time
Phrasal verb
  • he was doing handstands and kept it up for half an hour
  • I can’t keep this up any longer
  • you’re doing fine, Tom. Keep it up!
  • how long do you think you can keep this pretence up?

keep up (with)

ˈkiːp ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
if you keep up with other people, you move at the same speed as them or make the same amount of progress as they do
Phrasal verb
  • keep up with someone
  • I couldn’t keep up with the others in the class
  • she was walking quickly, and I was struggling to keep up
  • come on – try to keep up!
  • she moved to a different class where it was easier to keep up
  • we slowed the pace so that Jeff could keep up with us

kidney

ˈkɪdni
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
your kidneys are the two organs in your body which filter your blood and produce urine
Noun
  • suffering from kidney failure
  • a kidney transplant (when a kidney from one person’s body is put into another persons’s body to replace a kidney that has failed)
  • in old age, the kidneys become generally less efficient

knitting

ˈnɪtɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
knitting is making things from wool, using two long needles. Knitting is also the thing that is being made
Noun
  • I find knitting very relaxing
  • she put her knitting down and stood up
  • I like sewing and knitting
  • she was doing her knitting while she spoke
  • he’s knitted loads of scarves
  • we’ll sort out the knitting tomorrow morning
  • Verb: knit
  • Adjective: knitted
  • I’m going to knit a scarf for Sally
  • this morning I learnt how to knit a sock from the toe up
  • a pair of knitted gloves

knock down

nɒk ˈdaʊn
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
to knock down a building means to destroy it. A more formal word is demolish
Phrasal verb
  • they thought the Eiffel Tower was so ugly it should be knocked down
  • my old school is going to be knocked down
  • they’re knocking down some of the old high-rise blocks
  • I think it’s time they knocked it down

knock out

ˌnɒk ˈaʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp48-49
to knock someone out means to make them unconscious by hitting them. To knock yourself out means to have an accident and become unconscious
Phrasal verb
  • she knocked herself out when she fell
  • a blow to the head which knocked him out
  • he was knocked out in the second round of the fight
  • some tablets which really knocked me out (made me feel very tired)
  • Adjective: knockout
  • Noun: knockout
  • in the fifth round, Ali landed a knockout punch (a punch that knocked out his opponent)
  • his drink contained knockout drops (a drug that would make him fall asleep)
  • Moore was beaten by a knockout in four rounds

labour

ˈleɪbə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
labour is the process of giving birth to a baby. When this is happening, you can say that the mother is in labour, or has gone into labour
Noun uncount
  • go into labour
  • be in labour
  • a long labour
  • labour pains
  • she was in labour for seven hours
  • you need to ring the doctor and say I’ve gone into labour
  • her labour pains started that night
  • you’ll want pain relief, especially if it’s a long labour

labour

ˈleɪbə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
labour is very hard work. Hard labour is very hard work that someone is made to do as part of their punishment
Noun uncount
  • prisoners were made to do hard labour
  • sentenced to five years with hard labour
  • a labour camp (a special prison where prisoners have to do hard labour)

land

lænd
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
if something lands on a surface or lands on you, it falls there from above
Verb
  • a wasp landed on my arm
  • the bottle slipped out of his hand and smashed when it landed on the floor
  • toast always lands with the buttered side down
  • he fell out of the tree and landed on his shoulder

landlord

ˈlæn(d)ˌlɔː(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
a landlord is a man who owns a house or flat that other people pay to live in
Noun
  • the landlord wanted to put up the rent
  • our landlord promised to get the boiler repaired
  • the landlord refused to return our deposit
  • her landlord owned several houses in the same street

landmark

ˈlæn(d)ˌmɑː(r)k
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
a landmark is a famous building or monument that a lot of people recognise. A landmark is also an event that stands out as being very significant
Noun
  • one of the city’s most famous landmarks
  • the Statue of Liberty and other well-known landmarks
  • the revolution was a landmark in French history
  • this is a landmark decision by the court
  • after 1945, many of its historic landmarks were restored

landscape

ˈlæn(d)ˌskeɪp
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
the landscape is the view that you can see when you are in the country, away from towns and buildings. A landscape is also a painting or photograph of the countryside
Noun
  • a beautiful landscape
  • the natural landscape and setting was beautiful
  • he preferred painting portraits to landscapes
  • a rocky and windswept landscape

launch

lɔːntʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if you launch a new product, book, website, etc, you let a lot of people know that it is starting to exist so that they can buy it or make use of it
Verb
  • launch something onto the market
  • the company launched two new models last year
  • they launched a new range of laptops
  • Noun: launch
  • a product/book launch
  • an official launch
  • a successful launch
  • 60 journalists turned up for the book launch
  • the successful launch of the Royal website

laundry

ˈlɔːndri
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
laundry is clothes, sheets, towels etc that have been used and need to be washed, or that have just been washed
Noun singular
  • do the laundry
  • I have my laundry done once a week
  • leave your dirty laundry in the bathroom
  • the van collects the laundry every Monday and brings it back on Wednesdays
  • washing laundry in hot water really does not get your clothes any cleaner
  • the other laundry basket is for dirty clothes to be washed
  • Verb: launder
  • freshly laundered shirts
  • launder your work clothes separately from your bedding

leaflet

ˈliːflət
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
a leaflet is a piece of paper or a small book containing information about something
Noun
  • a leaflet about the local gym
  • a tourist information leaflet
  • a leaflet with instructions about how to apply for a grant
  • the leaflet gives details about the local bus routes
  • these leaflets are available from local post offices
  • in July, over 350,000 leaflets were distributed

leak

liːk
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
a leak is a small hole in a container or pipe that allows liquid or gas to escape
Noun
  • spring a leak
  • I realised the kettle had a leak
  • engineers found a leak in the oil tank
  • our dishwasher has sprung a leak (has suddenly developed a leak)
  • the road was closed because of a gas leak
  • there’s a leak in the hot water tank
  • Verb: leak
  • Noun: leakage
  • the radiator is leaking
  • water was leaking out through the broken pipe
  • everyone could smell that gas was leaking
  • the school had to close because of a nearby leakage of dangerous chemicals

leak

liːk
Upper Intermediate
pp26-27
if something leaks, liquid or gas can escape from it when it is not supposed to. If liquid or gas is leaking, it is escaping from somewhere when it is not supposed to
Verb
  • there was a crack in one of the roof tiles and it started leaking
  • the radiator is leaking
  • the shower tray has been leaking for weeks
  • water was leaking out through the broken pipe
  • everyone could smell that gas was leaking
  • Noun: leak
  • Noun: leakage
  • spring a leak
  • engineers found a leak in the oil tank
  • our dishwasher has sprung a leak (has suddenly developed a leak)
  • the road was closed because of a gas leak
  • the school had to close because of a nearby leakage of dangerous chemicals
  • there’s a leak in the hot water tank

leak

liːk
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
if a container has a leak, it has a small hole which allows the liquid inside to flow away
Noun
  • a leak in something
  • spring a leak
  • there’s a leak in the hot water tank
  • engineers found a leak in the oil tank
  • our dishwasher has sprung a leak (has suddenly developed a leak)
  • the road was closed because of a gas leak
  • Verb: leak
  • Noun: leakage
  • the radiator is leaking
  • water was leaking out through the broken pipe
  • everyone could smell that gas was leaking
  • the school had to close because of a nearby leakage of dangerous chemicals

leap up

ˈliːp ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
if you leap up, you get up very suddenly and quickly from where you are sitting
Phrasal verb
  • male guests would leap up and kiss the bride
  • Katie leapt up to answer the door
  • he leapt up from his bench when the first goal was scored

leap up

ˈliːp ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
if you leap up, you get up from a chair or from the ground very quickly and energetically
Phrasal verb
  • she leapt up and ran to the phone
  • the children leapt up when they heard their uncle’s voice
  • some of the audience were leaping up and shouting “Bravo!”

leave

liːv
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
if you leave money, property, or possessions to someone, you give official instructions that they should have the money, property, or possessions after you die
Verb
  • leave someone something
  • leave something to someone
  • her parents had left everything they owned to the RSPCA
  • he uncle left her a house and £20,000
  • I intend to leave most of my property to charity

leave out

ˈliːv ˌaʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
if you leave someone or something out of an activity or group, you do not include them in it
Phrasal verb
  • leave someone/something out of something
  • I feel a bit left out / we tried not to leave anyone out / she left out a few important details / a few names had been left out

legend

ˈledʒ(ə)nd
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
a legend is a very old story about people and events in the past that is probably not true
Noun
  • according to legend, the bones of a saint are buried there
  • ancient Greek legends
  • the legend of Robin Hood
  • some local legends
  • legend has it that his ghost still appears here twice a year
  • Adjective: legendary
  • a legendary king of Sparta
  • the legendary story of the founding of Rome

leisure

ˈleʒə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
leisure is time when people are not working and can do activities that they enjoy
Noun uncount
  • leisure time
  • leisure pursuits/activities
  • a leisure centre/complex/facility
  • provision of better leisure facilities
  • my leisure time was spent reading crime novels
  • leisure pursuits such as golf or tennis
  • leisure facilities here include a gym and a swimming pool

lengthy

ˈleŋθi
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
if something is lengthy, it takes a long time, and often feels as though it is taking longer than you would like it to take
Adjective
  • lengthy speeches
  • a lengthy discussion
  • lengthy negotiations
  • a fairly lengthy report
  • some lengthy delays
  • a lengthy period of economic recession

let down

ˈlet ˌdaʊn
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
if someone lets you down, they don’t do something that they were meant to do, and this causes a problem for you. When this happens, you can say that you feel let down
Adjective
  • the incident left him feeling let down and upset
  • despite what she said, she felt terribly let down
  • Phrasal verb: let down
  • I’m determined not to let you down
  • it wasn’t the first time that she had been let down by her brother

lethal

ˈliːθl
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
something that is lethal can kill someone
Adjective
  • some mushrooms can be lethal
  • colder temperatures can also prove lethal for the elderly
  • every gun is a lethal weapon
  • he suffered a lethal blow to the head
  • a lethal dose of morphine
  • a lethal cocktail (mixture) of alcohol and pills
  • Adverb: lethally
  • the edge of the knife was lethally sharp
  • he was lethally wounded and died the following day

liberty

lɪbə(r)ti
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
liberty is the freedom to do what you want without being controlled by the authorities
Noun uncount
  • individual/personal liberty
  • human liberty
  • basic liberty
  • religous liberty
  • the new law was seen as a threat to personal liberty
  • taking action to protect religious liberty
  • loss of liberty may be necessary in extreme circumstances
  • a campaign to bring about more liberty and democracy in other areas of social life

lid

lɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
a lid is a cover for a container
Noun
  • close/open a lid
  • put a lid on something
  • you need a flat lid to help turn the omelette over
  • put a lid on the pan
  • keep the lid on while the potatoes are cooking
  • I lifted the lid
  • a tight-fitting lid
  • a saucepan lid
  • the dustbin lid

life expectancy

ˌlaɪf ɪkˈspektənsi
Upper Intermediate
pp110-111
your life expectancy is the number of years you can reasonably expect to be alive
Noun
  • life expectancy in the UK for women is now over 82 years
  • life expectancy rose throughout the 20th century but might now drop
  • the inhabitants of Liechtenstein have the longest life expectancy in Europe
  • lower than average life expectancy
  • the life expectancy of a horse is 25 to 30 years

lift

lɪft
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
to lift something means to move it upwards using your hands and arms
Verb
  • he can lift 50 kilos
  • keep your back straight when you’re lifting something heavy
  • she leant forward and lifted the rock from the ground
  • his main hobby is lifting weights (lifting heavy weights as a sport)
  • can you lift the table so I can slide the carpet underneath?

lift

lɪft
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
if you get a lift somewhere, someone takes you there in their car
Noun
  • a lift to school/work/the shops
  • give/offer someone a lift
  • can you give me a lift home?
  • he offered us a lift to the station
  • I got a lift as far as the end of the road

ligament

ˈlɪɡəmənt
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
a ligament is a strong band of muscle in your body that connects your bones and keeps your organs in the right place
Noun
  • she suffered serious knee ligament damage in the accident
  • if you don't warm up first you can easily pull a muscle or tear a ligament
  • luckily, there was no ligament damage
  • his ligament injury will take at least two more weeks to heal

light

laɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
if someone asks you for a light, they are asking you for a match or a cigarette lighter because they don’t have one but they want to start smoking a cigarette
Noun
  • give someone a light
  • ask someone for a light
  • have you got a light?
  • here, let me give you a light
  • can anyone here give me a light?
  • he came over to ask me for a light

link

lɪŋk
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
a link between things is a strong connection between them, often because one of them is the cause of the other
Noun
  • a link between things
  • a direct link
  • a well-established link between poor reading skills and crime
  • these recordings offer a direct link with the past
  • this book establishes the link between economics and morality
  • a link exists between the two theories
  • Verb: link
  • Noun: linkage
  • these five families were closely linked
  • farming is directly linked to weather and climate
  • there is a close linkage between these subjects
  • he explored linkages between political science and Russian studies

literacy

ˈlɪt(ə)rəsi
Upper Intermediate
pp110-111
literacy is the basic ability to be able to read and write. You can also use literacy about other skills, for example financial literacy is knowing how to deal with your money sensibly, and computer literacy is the ability to use a computer
Noun uncount
  • financial/computer/scientific literacy
  • adult literacy
  • literacy rates
  • literacy skills
  • we need to improve adult literacy rates (increase the number of adults who can read and write)
  • financial literacy should be taught in schools
  • they had basic literacy and numeracy (they could read and write and do basic arithmetic)
  • you should help your children with their literacy skills
  • Antonym Noun: illiteracy
  • Adjective: literate
  • Antonym Adjective: illiterate
  • computer literate
  • targets for reducing poverty, disease, hunger, and illiteracy
  • if you’re not computer literate you won’t get on the course
  • he was barely literate when he left school
  • most of the population was illiterate in the 12th century (most people could not read or write)

live on

lɪv ɒn
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if you can live on the money you earn, you have enough money for the most important things you need, although maybe not enough for extra things. If you can’t live on the money you earn, you do not have enough money even for the most basic things
Verb
  • live on your salary/wages/pension
  • her pension was just enough to live on
  • can you live on £200 a week?
  • Noun: living
  • earn a living
  • make a living
  • he earns a good living as a taxi driver

liver

ˈlɪvə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
your liver is an organ in your body that cleans your blood
Noun
  • cancer of the liver
  • cirrhosis of the liver (a serious disease caused by drinking too much alcohol)
  • without a liver transplant those with liver failure will die (they need a healthy liver from someone else’s body to replace their own liver)

lock

lɒk
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
to lock a door means to close it with a key so that no one can open it unless they have a key. To lock someone somewhere means to put them in a room or cell and lock the door so that they cannot get out. If someone is locked in, they cannot get out of somewhere because a door is locked and they do not have a key
Verb
  • lock someone in (somewhere)
  • lock someone up
  • prisoners are locked in their cells 22 hours a day
  • the door swung shut and we were locked in
  • Max was locked inside his shed
  • if they find you guilty, they’ll lock you up for life (keep you in prison for the rest of your life)

look down on

lʊk ˈdaʊn ɒn
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
to look down on someone means to have a very bad opinion of them and think they are worse than you
Phrasal verb
  • cheats are looked down on in this school
  • she looks down on people with less money than herself
  • my mother always looked down on the neighbours because they didn't have a car

lower

ˈləʊə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
if you lower something somewhere, you carefully let it go from a higher position downwards, using a rope or something else to make sure it does not go too fast and break
Verb
  • carefully/slowly lower something (to/into something)
  • the woodcutter was lowered to the ground
  • the boat was carefully lowered into the river
  • they lowered the coffin into the grave

loyalty

ˈlɔɪəlti
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
if someone shows loyalty, they support someone or something reliably and without changing
Noun uncount
  • fierce/great loyalty
  • blind loyalty
  • inspire loyalty
  • show loyalty
  • demand/expect loyalty
  • the servants showed great loyalty even when times were difficult
  • workers had a fierce loyalty to each other
  • he inspires extraordinary loyalty among his staff
  • he demanded unquestioning loyalty in return for his support
  • Adjective: loyal
  • Adverb: loyally
  • fiercely loyal
  • loyal support
  • remain loyal (to someone)
  • only a few remained loyal to the prime minister
  • you can be sure of our loyal support
  • 25 years’ loyal service to the company
  • despite the setbacks, they loyally supported him
  • the new government loyally accepted the American proposals

lump

lʌmp
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
a lump of something is a small solid piece of it, usually with an irregular shape
Noun
  • a lump of silver rolled out
  • a lump of coal
  • a solid lump of concrete
  • a huge purple lump on his chest
  • a huge lump of clay
  • go to the doctor if you find a lump
  • Adjective: lumpy
  • a lumpy mattress
  • lumpy potatoes

lung

lʌŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
your lungs are the two organs in your chest that fill with air when you breathe and that process the air to make oxygen for your blood
Noun
  • lung cancer
  • after a minute under water my lungs were bursting
  • empty your lungs and breathe deeply in through your nose
  • this type of training is good for the heart and lungs

mad

mæd
Upper Intermediate
pp88-89
if you go mad, you behave in a wild and uncontrolled way, doing things you do not normally let yourself do
Adjective
  • let’s go mad and order some champagne
  • the kids went mad with excitement when they heard you were coming
  • here’s £200 for your birthday, but don’t go mad with it
  • Adverb: madly
  • he grinned madly at me
  • she ran madly round the room shouting “Yes, yes, yes!”

maid

meɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
a maid is a woman who works for a hotel or for a private family, doing jobs like cleaning and washing clothes
Noun
  • a maid comes in to sort out my flat every day
  • the hotel employed 15 cooks and 25 maids
  • the maid tapped on the door before coming in

maintain

meɪnˈteɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
to maintain a piece of machinery means to keep it in good working order by checking it regularly and mending it as soon as anything goes wrong with it
Verb
  • a different company was responsible for maintaining the school heating system
  • if you don’t maintain your car properly, it will cost you a lot in the future
  • problems were caused by failure to maintain the drainage system
  • Noun: maintenance
  • routine/regular maintenance
  • car maintenance classes
  • preventive maintenance measures (maintenance that is meant to stop problems developing)

make ends meet

meɪk endz miːt
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
if it’s difficult for you to make ends meet, you don’t have enough money to pay for the things that you regularly have to pay for, such as rent, food, heating etc.
Phrase
  • I don’t know how people can make ends meet
  • she was barely making ends meet
  • people are struggling to make ends meet
  • to make ends meet, he took on a job in a bar six nights a week
  • many couples rely on two incomes to make ends meet

make up

ˈmeɪk ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
if you make something up, for example a story or an excuse, you create a story that isn’t true in order to make people believe something that you want them to think
Phrasal verb
  • make up an excuse/story
  • the story he made up was really convincing
  • Adjective: made-up
  • another made-up excuse
  • I used a made-up name to register for the website

management

ˈmænɪdʒmənt
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
management is the group of senior people in an organization who are responsible for controlling and organizing it, and for supervising the more junior people
Noun uncount
  • senior/middle management
  • cutting back on a layer of middle management
  • management were opposed to the pay rise
  • Noun: manager Verb: manage
  • a senior/top manager
  • senior managers got an even bigger bonus
  • my manager has recommended me for a promotion

market research

ˌmɑː(r)kɪt rɪˈsɜː(r)tʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
market research is the collection of information from ordinary people about what they need and like so that companies can design products that people will want to buy
Noun
  • do/carry out market research
  • market research questionnaire
  • a market research survey
  • can you help with some market research we’re doing?
  • Noun: market researcher
  • many people don’t tell the truth to market researchers
  • I was stoppped in the street by a market researcher

marquee

mɑː(r)ˈkiː
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
a marquee is a large tent that you use for a party outdoors
Noun
  • hire/rent a marquee
  • put up/erect a marquee
  • they set up a marquee in the garden
  • we’re going to hire a marquee
  • the reception was held in a marquee on the lawn
  • sitting under a large marquee

mask

mɑːsk
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
a mask is something that covers part or all of someone’s face. People sometimes wear decorative masks at a party or celebration. Robbers sometimes wear masks so that no one will be able to see their faces and recognise them later
Noun
  • she wore a gold mask with a white nose and lips
  • two robbers entered the store wearing masks
  • the children wore carnival masks and costumes
  • I’m making a mask for tomorrow’s party
  • Adjective: masked
  • three masked men burst into the bank
  • masked gunmen opened fire on the police
  • a masked ball (a big social occasion where people dance, and where everyone wears a mask)

mass

mæs
Upper Intermediate
pp84-85
mass actions, events, or activities involve a large number of people at the same time
Adjective
  • mass unemployment
  • mass hysteria
  • mass destruction/murder/extinction
  • mass protest/demonstration
  • mass media
  • the 1930s was a decade of mass unemployment
  • weapons of mass destruction (weapons that can kill a lot of people at one time)
  • mass demonstrations in the capital
  • a mass murderer (a murderer who has killed a lot of people)
  • 20th century culture was shaped by the mass media
  • Noun: mass
  • a mass of people/things
  • the masses
  • laws which aim to give the mass of people a better life
  • an appeal to the mass of the population
  • bringing education to the masses

master class

ˈmɑːstə(r) klɑːs
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
a master class is a lesson in music or a sport, given by someone who has been very successful and who is very famous
Noun
  • a master class with a top Russian fencer
  • a violin master class
  • she was invited to attend a master class
  • a master class given by a famous pianist
  • several of these master classes were televised
  • she teaches master classes in acting and singing

matter

ˈmætə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
a matter is a problem or an issue that people cannot agree about
Noun
  • they hope the matter can be settled quickly
  • we’ll discuss the matter at our meeting tomorrow
  • the matter was resolved when the company agreed to a pay rise

meant

ment
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
if something was meant to happen or meant to be a particular thing, it happened or it was that thing on purpose and not by accident
Adjective
  • be meant to do something
  • be meant to be something
  • the sugar is meant to be added just before the end of the cooking time
  • it was meant to make you laugh
  • the film was meant to be a serious look at life in the Arctic
  • Verb: mean
  • mean to do something
  • mean something to be something
  • I didn’t mean to to hurt you
  • she meant it to be a surprise
  • I can’t believe you meant to be so rude to your father

measure

ˈmeʒə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
measures are actions taken by a government or organisation to help solve a problem
Noun
  • we need to implement a range of measures
  • the government has promised to take measures to tackle crime
  • the company is introducing new safety measures
  • tough new measures to combat speeding
  • such extreme measures were not necessary
  • the measure was opposed by the business community

melt

melt
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
if something melts or if you melt it, it becomes soft or turns to liquid after being frozen or hard
Verb
  • melt the chocolate and mix in the raisins
  • the snow had all melted by the morning
  • my ice-cream’s melting!
  • melt the butter in a small saucepan
  • Adjective: melted
  • brush the top with melted butter
  • put the melted chocolate in a bowl

membership

ˈmembə(r)ʃɪp
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
membership is the fact of being a member of a club or other organisation
Noun
  • membership of something
  • he took out gym membership in January
  • the annual membership subscription is £100
  • membership costs £20 month
  • I decided not to renew my membership for next year
  • he resigned his membership in 2013
  • life membership of the golf club (permanent membership that you don’t need to renew)
  • membership is available to anyone over the age of 21
  • I forgot to pay my membership fee
  • Noun: member
  • a member of something
  • I’ve been a member of the tennis club since 2008
  • the committee consists of ten elected members
  • the UN has 193 member nations (countries that are members of the UN)

mend

mend
Upper Intermediate
pp26-27
if you mend something that is broken or damaged, you do something to it to return it to the state it was in before it became broken or damaged
Verb
  • he tried to mend the rip in his trousers
  • I need to mend my glasses
  • can you take my shoes in to be mended?
  • she used to mend her own clothes when she had no money

menial

ˈmiːnɪəl
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
menial jobs or tasks are not very difficult, do not require any skill, and the people who do them have very low status
Adjective
  • a menial job/task/work/labour/position
  • a menial job in the hotel kitchen
  • perform menial household chores

merge

mɜː(r)dʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
when two separate organisations merge, they come together to form one larger organisation
Verb
  • merge with something
  • merge something into something
  • we decided to merge with another company
  • they’re planning to merge with an American bank
  • the two departments merged a year later
  • he became chairman of the merged business
  • both railways were eventually merged into London Underground
  • the two companies had fully merged by June 2014
  • Noun: merger
  • a merger between the two companies
  • people who aren’t in favour of the proposed merger
  • multi-billion dollar corporate mergers
  • this led to the eventual merger of the two clubs as "Athletic Club" in 1903

mild

maɪld
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
something that is mild is not very strong or extreme
Adjective
  • people who suffer from mild depression
  • you might feel a mild burning sensation
  • winters here are mild (they do not get very cold)
  • he suffered a mild heart attack
  • Adverb: mildly
  • he looked mildly surprised by the question (surprised, but not extremely surprised)

miles

maɪlz
Upper Intermediate
pp88-89
if you say that somewhere is miles away, you mean it is a very long way away
Noun plural
  • you’ll never get there in time. It’s miles away
  • I lost all my friends when I was six, and we moved to a new house that was miles away
  • I’m not walking home from here. It’s miles!

miles

maɪlz
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
if you say that somewhere is miles away, or that something travels miles, you mean it is a very long way away or that it travels a very long way
Noun plural
  • I hit the ball and it went miles off to the left
  • you’ll never get there in time. It’s miles away
  • I lost all my friends when I was six and we moved to a new house that was miles away
  • I’m not walking home from here. It’s miles!

military

ˈmɪlɪt(ə)ri
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
military means relating to the army and other armed forces of a country
Adjective
  • military personnel/leaders/forces
  • military equipment
  • military action/campaign/operation/exercise/conflict/intervention
  • military base
  • military aid
  • military spending reached $700 billion
  • an exhibition of old military vehicles
  • offensive military operations
  • the hotel was turned into a military base
  • he was a great military commander
  • serving military officers
  • Noun: military
  • he joined the military when he was just 17
  • the military launched the attack after dark

military

ˈmɪlɪt(ə)ri
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
military means relating to the army and other armed forces of a country
Adjective
  • military personnel/leaders/forces
  • military equipment
  • military action/campaign/operation/exercise/conflict/intervention
  • military base
  • military aid
  • an exhibition of old military vehicles
  • offensive military operations
  • the hotel was turned into a military base
  • he was a great military commander
  • serving military officers
  • Noun: military
  • he joined the military when he was just 17
  • the military launched the attack after dark

military

ˈmɪlɪt(ə)ri
Upper Intermediate
pp84-85
military means relating to the army and other armed forces of a country
Adjective
  • military personnel/leaders/forces
  • military equipment
  • military action/campaign/operation/exercise/conflict/intervention
  • military base
  • military aid
  • military spending reached $700 billion
  • an exhibition of old military vehicles
  • offensive military operations
  • the hotel was turned into a military base
  • he was a great military commander
  • serving military officers
  • Noun: military
  • join the military
  • he joined the military as soon as the war started
  • the British military denied the report
  • the Turkish military evacuated the region

minimal

ˈmɪnɪm(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
something that is minimal uses or involves the smallest amount possible of something
Adjective
  • I’d had only a minimal amount of training
  • the medicine had only a minimal effect
  • we were given minimal amounts of food
  • the fees they charge are minimal
  • minimal art
  • Adverb: minimally
  • office routine was minimally affected during the building works
  • minimally invasive heart surgery (an operation on someone’s heart that involves the least possible damage to the rest of the body)

misleading

mɪsˈliːdɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp128-129
something that is misleading gives you a wrong impression and makes you believe something that is not true
Adjective
  • seriously/highly/wildly misleading
  • deliberately misleading
  • the story was rather misleading
  • these assertions are highly misleading
  • the report included misleading graphs and exaggerated statistics
  • it accuses manufacturers of being deliberately misleading
  • dishonest and misleading blog posts
  • they ruled that the article was neither untrue nor misleading
  • Verb: mislead
  • mislead someone about something
  • mislead someone into thinking something
  • we were misled by the advertisement into thinking that the second week would be free
  • the company denies that it has misled customers
  • don’t be misled by fancy brochures
  • she deliberately misled us into believeing she really owned the house

misunderstand

ˌmɪsʌndə(r)ˈstænd
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
if you misunderstand something, you form an impression of it that is wrong or mistaken
Verb
  • I misunderstood the doctor’s instructions
  • don’t misunderstand me – I didn’t mean it was wrong
  • Noun: misunderstanding Adjective: misunderstood
  • a total/complete/slight/common/genuine misunderstanding
  • much misunderstood
  • it was all a complete misunderstanding
  • cultural misunderstandings
  • Powell was a much misunderstood politician

misunderstanding

ˌmɪsʌndə(r)ˈstændɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
a misunderstanding is a wrong or mistaken idea about something
Noun
  • a total/complete/slight/common/genuine misunderstanding
  • it was all a complete misunderstanding
  • cultural misunderstandings
  • I can see how this misunderstanding arose
  • I'm sorry if there was any misunderstanding regarding what I said
  • we have changed the wording to avoid any misunderstanding
  • Verb: misunderstand
  • Adjective: misunderstood
  • I misunderstood the doctor’s instructions
  • don’t misunderstand me – I didn’t mean it was wrong
  • Powell was a much misunderstood politician

mix

mɪks
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
to mix with people means to meet them socially and talk to them
Verb
  • you might refuse to mix with people you used to know
  • teachers mixed with students at the end-of-year party
  • Jenny was very shy and didn’t mix easily
  • Noun: mixer
  • Jack was a good mixer and put everyone at their ease

mix-up

ˈmɪksʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp142-143
a mix-up is a mistake that is the result of confusion in the way something has been arranged
Noun
  • a mix-up over something
  • a mix-up between things
  • I’m afraid there’s been some kind of mix-up in our system
  • our bags got lost due to a mix-up at the airport
  • a mix-up over dates
  • I was late because of a mix-up in my diary
  • a mix-up between different departments
  • the mix-up was the result of an administrative error
  • sorry about the mix-up with the car keys
  • Phrasal verb: mix up
  • the two parcels got mixed up at the sorting office
  • my file had been mixed up with another patient’s

moan

məʊn
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
a moan is a complaint about something
Noun
  • have a moan
  • we meet up and have a moan about things
  • I don’t want to listen to your moans!
  • Verb: moan
  • she’s always moaning about the buses
  • there’s no point moaning; it won’t change anything

moan

məʊn
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
if you moan about someone or something, you complain about them in a very unhappy way
Verb
  • moan about someone/something
  • she’s always moaning about the buses
  • there’s no point moaning; it won’t change anything
  • don’t be such a moaning Minnie (someone who is annoying because they are always complaining)
  • “I hate you! You never let me stay out late,” he moaned
  • Noun: moaner
  • Noun: moan
  • don’t be such a moaner
  • he’s one of the biggest moaners I know
  • I don’t want to listen to your moans!
  • he had a moan about the referee after the match

moan

məʊn
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
if you moan about someone or something, you complain about them in a very unhappy way
Verb
  • moan about someone/something
  • they never moan or look for people to blame
  • stop moaning!
  • everyone moaned about the food
  • Noun: moan
  • Noun: moaner
  • I don’t want to listen to your moans!
  • he had a moan about the referee after the match
  • don’t be such a moaner
  • he’s one of the biggest moaners I know

moan

məʊn
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
if you moan about someone or something, you complain about them in a very unhappy way
Verb
  • moan about someone/something
  • she’s always moaning about the buses
  • there’s no point moaning; it won’t change anything
  • don’t be such a moaning Minnie (someone who is annoying because they are always complaining)
  • “I hate you! You never let me stay out late” he moaned
  • Noun: moaner
  • Noun: moan
  • don’t be such a moaner
  • he’s one of the biggest moaners I know
  • I don’t want to listen to your moans!
  • he had a moan about the referee after the match

moral

ˈmɒrəl
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
moral issues, choices, or beliefs are based on ideas of what is right and wrong
Adjective
  • a deep psychological need for love and moral order
  • it shows children the importance of moral choices
  • suicide is a moral issue
  • you have a moral obligation to do something
  • a moral duty
  • he has very high moral standards
  • a set of moral values
  • a woman of strict moral principles
  • a highly moral individual who loves his fellow man
  • no moral judgement can decide the value of life
  • Noun: morality
  • Adverb: morally
  • Antonyms – Adjective: immoral
  • Noun: immorality
  • is morality a human invention?
  • what role does morality play in formulating law?
  • any action that is not morally wrong must be morally right
  • the need to distinguish between what is morally acceptable and what is legal
  • she believes that using food crops as fuel is immoral
  • he’d been accused of illegal and immoral behaviour
  • an increase in violence and immorality

mortality

mɔː(r)ˈtæləti
Upper Intermediate
pp110-111
mortality is the number of people who die in a particular group, at a particular age, in a particular place, or in a particular period of time
Noun uncount
  • infant/child mortality
  • mortality rates
  • child mortality rates
  • we are seeing reduced mortality from cancer
  • rising mortality among men in Eastern Europe
  • studies have shown those who cycle to have a significantly lower mortality rate
  • married people face a lower mortality risk than unmarried people

mortality

mɔː(r)ˈtæləti
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
mortality is the number of people who die in a particular group, at a particular age, in a particular place, or in a particular period of time
Noun uncount
  • infant/child mortality
  • mortality rates
  • child mortality rates
  • we are seeing reduced mortality from cancer
  • rising mortality among men in Eastern Europe
  • studies have shown those who cycle to have a significantly lower mortality rate
  • married people face a lower mortality risk than unmarried people

move on

muːv ˈɒn
Upper Intermediate
pp84-85
if you move on, you change the topic of what you are writing or talking about
Phrasal verb
  • move on to something
  • let’s move on to the next question
  • moving on to my conclusion
  • before I move on, are there any questions?

muddy

ˈmʌdi
Upper Intermediate
pp52-53
if something is muddy, it is covered in mud
Adjective
  • the camp site was really muddy
  • muddy boots
  • my clothes had got muddy
  • the floor was all muddy
  • Noun: mud
  • the mud was really deep
  • wash the mud off your boots before you come in

myth

mɪθ
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
a myth is a story that has existed for a long time, which is probably not true, but which people like to believe, often because it explains something about the world
Noun
  • a popular myth
  • perpetuate a myth
  • the myths and legends of the ancient Greeks
  • learning the piano is relatively easy, contrary to popular myth (what most people believe)
  • there are numerous myths concerning the origin of the castle
  • a myth that explains why the sea is salty
  • Adjective: mythical
  • Noun: mythology
  • Adjective: mythological
  • popular mythology
  • classical/Greek/Celtic mythology
  • Hermes is the messenger god of classical mythology
  • the power of ancient mythology
  • paintings of mythological scenes

mythical

ˈmɪθɪk(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
something that is mythical is not true or does not exist, but is the subject of stories and legends and feels real to many people
Adjective
  • a mythical beast/figure/creature
  • a mythical kingdom/place/island
  • ancient Celtic legend holds that the mythical figure of Arthur was at one time king of all of England
  • a centaur is a mythical creature with the head of a human and the body of a horse
  • Brittia, a mythical island off the coast of Australia
  • Noun: myth
  • Noun: mythology
  • Adjective: mythological
  • popular mythology
  • a popular myth
  • perpetuate a myth
  • classical/Greek/Celtic mythology
  • the myths and legends of the ancient Greeks
  • learning the piano is relatively easy, contrary to popular myth (what most people believe)
  • there are numerous myths concerning the origin of the castle
  • Hermes is the messenger god of classical mythology
  • the power of ancient mythology
  • paintings of mythological scenes

needle

ˈniːd(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
a needle is a long, thin piece of metal with a hole through the middle of it which is used to push medicine into people’s bodies
Noun
  • disposable needles (ones that are used only once)
  • a hypodermic needle (one that is pushed into the skin)
  • he fainted when he saw the needle

needle

ˈniːd(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp26-27
a needle is a thin pointed piece of metal that you put a thread through and use for sewing things. A knitting needle is a long thin pointed piece of plastic or wood that you use for knitting
Noun
  • a needle and thread
  • a sewing needle
  • I couldn’t see well enough to thread a needle (put thread through the hole in the top of it)
  • he could hear the clicking of the knitting needles

negligence

ˈneɡlɪdʒ(ə)ns
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
negligence is not being careful enough, with the result that something is damaged or someone is injured
Noun uncount
  • medical/clinical/professional negligence
  • criminal negligence
  • gross/serious negligence
  • a lawyer specialising in medical negligence cases
  • he was guilty of professional negligence
  • charged with gross negligence (very serious negligence)
  • they’re threatening to sue him for negligence
  • Adjective: negligent
  • the hospital was found to be negligent
  • grossly negligent

networking

ˈnetˌwɜː(r)kɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
networking is talking to a lot of people who do a similar job to you in order to exchange ideas and information and to meet new people who might be able to help you in your job and career
Noun uncount
  • social networking sites (websites where people can share information about themselves with friends)
  • the course offers superb networking opportunities
  • networking is about forming mutually useful relationships
  • invitations to networking parties
  • Verb: network
  • Noun: networker
  • Noun: network
  • they’re out every evening, networking
  • tips on how to network more effectively
  • he's a brilliant networker and one key to his success is persistence
  • to be a successful networker you need to be able to listen
  • I filled every position through my network of contacts

niche

niːʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
a niche is an opportunity to sell a special product to a small group of people
Noun
  • she managed to exploit a niche in the market
  • he spotted a niche in the fashion market
  • a profitable niche that saw the company through the slump of the 1980s
  • the magazine got a positive response because it filled a really specific niche
  • Adjective: niche
  • it’s a niche market
  • a niche product

nomadic

nəʊˈmædɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
if someone has a nomadic way of life, they never stay for long in one place but always move on to live somewhere else very soon
Adjective
  • her family is from a nomadic background
  • Larry sold his home and took up a nomadic lifestyle
  • she led a nomadic life, living in different countries
  • nomadic peoples who survived on hunting and fishing
  • Noun: nomad
  • most nomads travel in groups of families called bands or tribes
  • humans lived as nomads, surviving by hunting and gathering

non-stop

ˌnɒnˈstɒp
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
if something happens non-stop, it continues all the time without a pause
Adverb
  • talk non-stop
  • drive/fly non-stop
  • it continued non-stop for about a week
  • we flew non-stop to Chicago
  • he talked non-stop all evening
  • Stella’s phone has been ringing non-stop all morning
  • Adjective: non-stop
  • a non-stop flight
  • a non-stop flight from Heathrow to Chicago
  • the work was non-stop, but it was fun

non-stop

ˌnɒnˈstɒp
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
an activity that is non-stop carries on without a pause
Adjective
  • a non-stop flight
  • a non-stop flight from Heathrow to Chicago
  • the work was non-stop, but it was fun
  • Adverb: non-stop
  • talk non-stop
  • drive/fly non-stop
  • we flew non-stop to Chicago
  • he talked non-stop all evening

notice

ˈnəʊtɪs
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
your notice is a formal statement telling your employer that you are going to leave your job
Noun
  • hand in/submit/ your notice give notice
  • I have to give two months’ notice before I can leave

novelty

ˈnɒv(ə)lti
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
novelty is the quality of being new and still being interesting. If you say that the novelty has worn off, you mean that something has become less interesting because you have become very familiar with it
Noun
  • be (something of) a novelty
  • the novelty wears off
  • after two weeks, the novelty wore off and I dreaded gong to work
  • having a gas cooker was still something of a novelty
  • Adjective: novel
  • entirely/totally novel
  • a novel approach/method/concept
  • they introduced an entirely novel method of treating patients with flu
  • selling on the Internet is hardly a novel concept any more

obesity

əʊˈbiːsəti
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
obesity is the serious physical condition of someone being so heavy that it has a dangerously bad effect on their health
Noun uncount
  • obesity rates
  • childhood obesity
  • the obesity epidemic
  • there is an obesity epidemic in this country
  • rising obesity rates are a major concern
  • childhood obesity is a global health concern
  • worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980
  • Adjective: obese
  • her mother is morbidly obese (so obese that her life is at risk)
  • very often, obese patients have anxiety problems
  • currently 10% of children worldwide are either overweight or obese
  • none of these women is clinically obese (obese according to the medical definition of the word)

observer

əbˈzɜː(r)və(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
an observer is someone who watches something carefullyor who follows a particular situation with great interest
Noun
  • they’re keen observers of people and their behaviour
  • an acute observer of human nature
  • the elections will be monitored by independent observers
  • to the casual observer, little seemed to have changed
  • a trained observer will quickly tell you where you're going wrong
  • Verb: observe
  • Noun: observation
  • he observed over 90 operations during his training
  • you can learn a lot by observing people
  • it’ll be interesting to observe what happens
  • no significant changes were observed during the experiment
  • she recommended learning through observation
  • this will require careful observation

obsession

əbˈseʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
if you have an obsession with something, you think about it or do it all the time and cannot change your behaviour
Noun
  • an obsession with (doing) something
  • Perhaps it was the trauma that caused his obsession
  • she seemed to have an obsession with cleaning
  • revising for exams can become an obsession
  • behaviour that was bordering on obsession
  • she had an unhealthy obsession with social media
  • be obsessed with something
  • an obsessive desire to keep fit
  • Barry displayed obsessive behaviour
  • her desire to lose weight had become obsessive
  • some people are obsessional about cleanliness and tidiness
  • he is madly and obsessively in love with Lenore
  • I listen to Beethoven almost obsessively every night
  • he grew up completely obsessed with football
  • why are people so obsessed with celebrities?

obstacle

ˈɒbstək(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
an obstacle is a problem or difficulty that stops you from going somewhere or from achieving what you are trying to do
Noun
  • an obstacle to success
  • lack of money is a serious obstacle
  • an obstacle to communication
  • what were the major obstacles you encountered?
  • she’s had to overcome a lot of obstacles along the way
  • they are calling on the government to remove obstacles to free trade

odds

ɒdz
Upper Intermediate
pp128-129
the odds are the numbers that show how much money you will win if a bet wins. The odds of something happening are how likely it is to happen
Noun plural
  • the odds are against something
  • long/short odds
  • he’s the favourite to win, at odds of 2 to 1 (if you bet £1 you will win £2)
  • the bookmakers are offering odds of 3 to 1 on a Conservative victory
  • Germany started the competition at very short odds (they were considered very likely to win)
  • what are the odds of finding the wreckage?
  • the odds are in our favour
  • the odds are against us
  • she recovered against all the odds

offence

əˈfens
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
if someone commits an offence, they do something that is against the law
Noun
  • commit an offence
  • a serious offence
  • a minor offence
  • a first/second offence
  • it was a really serious offence
  • a public order offence (a crime in public such as fighting or rioting in the street)
  • even minor offences were severely punished
  • his offence was punishable by death
  • his sentence was longer because it was a second offence
  • Verb: offend
  • Noun: offender
  • if you offend again, you will be sent to prison
  • some prisoners here are habitual offenders and some only first-time minor offenders

on air

ɒn ˈeə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
if someone is on air or on the air, they are being broadcast on radio or television. If a radio or television station goes on air, it starts broadcasting. If a programme is on air, it is being broadcast
Phrase
  • live on (the) air
  • go/come on (the) air
  • he was sacked for swearing on air
  • I thought I’d be nervous, but I was fine as soon as I was on air
  • the minister went on the air to explain the reasons for the changes
  • the show went on air earlier this month
  • Channel 4 first went on air in 1982
  • Verb: air
  • Antonym: off (the) air
  • the interview with Obama aired last Friday
  • they were not allowed to air the programme before 9 in the evening
  • luckily, the remarks were made off the air

on demand

ɒn dɪˈmɑːnd
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
if you demand something you ask for it and want it immediately. So if a service is on demand you can ask for and get it immediately
Phrase
  • I tend to watch films on demand at home
  • our programmes are available online and on demand
  • sporting content that you can watch on demand

opponent

əˈpəʊnənt
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
your opponent is the person or team trying to beat you in a competition, election, or other activity
Noun
  • to win the tournament, the player must beat all 12 opponents
  • Liverpool's opponents next week are Sunderland
  • his opponent was too strong for him
  • he won the election, with 2,000 votes more than his opponent

opposition

ˌɒpəˈzɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
if there is opposition to something, people disagree with it and try to stop it from happening or continuing
Noun uncount
  • why is there so much opposition to the proposal?
  • there was strong opposition to the expansion plan
  • the attempt to build a new road met with widespread opposition
  • the proposal has faced opposition from local residents
  • Verb: oppose
  • Adjective: opposed
  • Noun: opponent
  • be opposed to something
  • a majority of Scots voters opposed independence
  • Clarke opposed the invasion of Iraq
  • we are strongly opposed to nuclear weapons
  • he had opponents both in his own party and in the government party

optimism

ˈɒptɪˌmɪzəm
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
optimism is having the belief that good things are going to happen in the future
Noun uncount
  • optimism about something
  • everyone I spoke with expressed optimism about the project
  • I don’t share her optimism
  • there’s a mood of cautious optimism in the country
  • he was still young and full of optimism
  • Adjective: optimistic
  • Adverb: optimistically
  • Noun: optimist
  • optimistic about something
  • optimistic that
  • are you optimistic about the future?
  • the results were better even than the most optimistic forecasts
  • I am cautiously optimistic that this might work
  • both sides have spoken optimistically about the talks
  • he believed, optimistically, that sales would increase
  • the optimist sees the glass as half full, while the pessimist sees it as half empty

order

ˈɔː(r)də(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
if there is order, everything is correct and everything happens as it is meant to
Noun singular
  • they are rewarded and order is restored
  • it was almost daylight before order had been established again
  • steps were taken to maintain social order
  • by late afternoon, order prevailed (things were back to normal)

order

ˈɔː(r)də(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
order is a situation in which everyone is obeying the law and no one is fighting in public
Noun uncount
  • law and order
  • public order
  • keep order
  • restore order
  • a public order offence
  • troops were sent in to restore order
  • there were a few law and order problems in the town
  • the police were responsible for keeping order outside the parliament building
  • Antonym – Noun: disorder
  • civil disorder spread throughout the country

out of hand

ˌaʊt əv ˈhænd
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
if something gets out of hand, it becomes difficult to control
Phrase
  • get out of hand
  • completely out of hand
  • the party got a bit out of hand
  • the situation is getting completely out of hand
  • matters are clearly out of hand
  • we need to act now before the problem gets out of hand

outcome

ˈaʊtˌkʌm
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
the outcome of a process or activity is the final result of it
Noun
  • the final outcome was disappointing
  • the outcome of the election
  • a successful outcome
  • actions which will achieve the desired outcome
  • the outcome is uncertain

outfit

ˈaʊtfɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
an outfit is a particular set of clothes, especially one that is worn for special occasions
Noun
  • the girls wear traditional Japanese outfits
  • she had a different outfit for the opera that evening
  • I can’t always wear the same outfit
  • she considered buying a new outfit for the occasion

outline

ˈaʊtlaɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp84-85
if you outline something, you give a short or general explanation of it without providing a lot of details
Verb
  • briefly outline
  • broadly outline
  • outline plans/proposals/policies
  • I’d like to begin by outlining the proposal
  • he outlined the government’s policies
  • let me briefly outline the plan
  • Noun: outline Adjective: outline
  • an outline of a plan/proposal
  • a broad/general/basic outline
  • a brief outline
  • an initial/preliminary outline
  • she gave a brief outline of the company’s history
  • a broad outline of the proposals
  • this is just an initial outline, and further detail will be provided next week
  • an outline proposal

outperform

ˌaʊtpə(r)ˈfɔː(r)m
Upper Intermediate
pp136-137
to perform well or badly in an activity means to do it well or badly. If you outperform people in an activity, you do it better than them, and if something outperforms other things, it does it better than them
Verb
  • computers now outperform humans at chess
  • some organisations significantly outperform others in their industry
  • at school, he consistently outperformed his older brother
  • traditionally, girls have outperformed boys in reading and writing

outrage

ˈaʊtˌreɪdʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
outrage is a feeling of very strong anger
Noun uncount
  • cause/spark/trigger outrage
  • moral outrage
  • public outrage
  • express outrage
  • news of the ban caused outrage across the country
  • the speech was greeted with outrage by opposition groups
  • there’s been widespread public outrage
  • I felt a deep sense of outrage
  • Verb: outrage
  • Adjective: outrageous
  • Adverb: outrageously
  • a lot of people were outraged by the idea
  • that’s an outrageous suggestion!
  • you’ve been behaving outrageously all evening (you’ve been behaving very badly)

outsource

ˈaʊtˌsɔː(r)s
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
when a company outsources its work or services, it arranges for the work to be done or the services to be provided by a different organisation, sometimes one in another country
Verb
  • hospitals outsource their record keeping
  • it’s much cheaper to outsource the work
  • the company plans to outsource its research activities
  • European firms that outsource labour to Asian countries
  • Noun: outsourcing
  • the benefits of outsourcing
  • the outsourcing of components from Eastern Europe

over-the-top

ˌəʊvə(r) ðə ˈtɒp
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
if something is over-the-top, it is so extreme that it seems silly. You can also use just the initials and say that something is OTT
Adjective
  • it was completely over-the-top
  • I think that’s a bit over-the top
  • The film has loads of fight scenes and over-the-top acting
  • his reaction was really over-the-top
  • it was very funny, without being OTT

overcome

ˌəʊvə(r)ˈkʌm
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
to overcome something that is dangerous or difficult means to succeed in doing what you want to do by surviving the danger or achieving something that was difficult
Verb
  • overcome an obstacle/barrier/difficulty
  • successfully overcome something
  • the story is about overcoming a monster
  • even the most challenging of our issues were successfully overcome
  • our role is to help students overcome these obstacles
  • these translations made it possible to overcome the language barrier
  • how have they tried to overcome their difficulties?

overdraft

ˈəʊvə(r)ˌdrɑːft
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
if you have an overdraft, you have spent more money from a bank account than you put in it, so you owe the bank money. If you have an agreed overdraft, the bank will let you spend a certain amount more than you have in your account before they start to charge you extra interest
Noun
  • an unauthorised overdraft
  • run up an overdraft
  • pay back/repay an overdraft
  • an overdraft facility/agreement
  • I had a £250 overdraft
  • an overdraft might be cheaper than a bank loan
  • I finally paid off my overdraft last month
  • he ran up an overdraft of £3,000 in his first year at university
  • Adjective: overdrawn
  • my account gets overdrawn every month
  • we’re £400 overdrawn
  • I was charged twice for one small overdrawn amount

overdue

ˌəʊvə(r)ˈdjuː
Upper Intermediate
pp142-143
if something is overdue, it has not happened or been done by the expected time
Adjective
  • long overdue
  • an overdue payment/debt/bill
  • an overdue payment on your account
  • my library books are overdue (I should have returned them)
  • it’s a week overdue
  • these reforms are long overdue
  • the rent was long overdue and we were given three days to pay it

overhear

ˌəʊvə(r)ˈhɪə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
if you overhear what someone is saying, you accidentally hear it and they do not know that you could hear
Verb
  • I couldn’t help overhearing
  • I overheard them talking about it
  • I overheard him saying he was going to leave
  • I don’t want anyone to overhear this

overlook

ˌəʊvə(r)ˈlʊk
Upper Intermediate
pp52-53
if something overlooks a place, it is above the place and has a view over it
Verb
  • the hotel room overlooked a building site
  • a balcony overlooking the beach
  • I sat by a window overlooking the river

overnight

ˌəʊvə(r)ˈnaɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
if something happens overnight, it happens during the night or throughout the night
Adverb
  • soak the chickpeas overnight
  • they kept him in hospital overnight
  • we decided to travel overnight
  • are you going to stay overnight?
  • don’t leave the TV on overnight
  • Adjective: overnight
  • an overnight stay
  • overnight accommodation
  • the overnight ferry (you travel through the night and arrive in the morning)
  • overnight parking is not allowed here
  • the price included an overnight stay in Paris
  • meals and overnight accommodation are extra

overseas

ˌəʊvəˈsiːz
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if you live overseas, you live in a foreign country. If you travel overseas, you travel to a foreign country. Usually, the country is a long way away and you have to cross the sea to get there.
Adverb
  • ship/send/despatch something overseas
  • live/work/be stationed overseas
  • travel/journey overseas
  • he lived overseas for 20 years
  • seeking employment overseas
  • visitors from overseas
  • Adjective: overseas
  • an overseas trip/journey/travel
  • overseas visitors/students
  • she returned from a long overseas trip to Australia
  • overseas investment

oversee

ˌəʊvə(r)ˈsiː
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
if you oversee an activity, process, or organisation, you are in charge of it and it is your job to make sure that everything happens properly and in the way it is meant to
Verb
  • having overseen the collection, I know the exhibition will be sensational
  • as regional chief, he oversaw four research laboratories
  • he oversees the daily running of the centre
  • my job was to oversee operations and handle the finances
  • Noun: oversight
  • a new committee was formed to provide the necessary oversight
  • a board of directors will provide oversight of the charity's operations

overtake

ˌəʊvə(r)ˈteɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
if you overtake a car, lorry, bike etc while you are driving, you go past it because you are driving faster than they are
Verb
  • you shouldn't overtake on the inside
  • you’re not allowed to overtake here
  • a van overtook us
  • as they came round a bend they met a lorry overtaking a tractor

overtake

ˌəʊvə(r)ˈteɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
if you overtake another vehicle when you are driving, you go past it because you are moving faster
Verb
  • he was trying to overtake on a corner
  • you shouldn't overtake on the inside
  • you’re not allowed to overtake here
  • a van overtook us
  • he drove fast, overtaking at every opportunity

overview

ˈəʊvə(r)ˌvjuː
Upper Intermediate
pp84-85
an overview is a description of the main parts of something
Noun
  • an overview of something
  • give/provide/present an overview
  • brief/clear/broad overview
  • an overview of the issues involved
  • it gives an overview of American history
  • a brief overview of the problem
  • the author provides a broad overview of the research

overwhelming

ˌəʊvə(r)ˈwelmɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp52-53
if something is overwhelming, it has such a strong effect on your feelings that it is difficult for you to describe exactly how you feel
Adjective
  • the people were so kind, it was quite overwhelming
  • it was all a bit overwhelming
  • I found the experience absolutely overwhelming
  • my disappointment was almost overwhelming
  • Verb: overwhelm
  • Adverb: overwhelmingly
  • I was overwhelmed by a feeling of sadness
  • we were totally overwhelmed by people’s support

overwhelmingly

ˌəʊvə(r)ˈwelmɪŋli
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
overwhelmingly means to a very great extent
Adverb
  • vote overwhelmingly for/against something
  • overwhelmingly positive/negative
  • reality TV is overwhelmingly positive
  • they voted overwhelmingly in support of the idea
  • public opinion was overwhelmingly against the war
  • their comments were overwhelmingly supportive
  • Adjective: overwhelming
  • an overwhelming majority
  • the overwhelming majority of students
  • she managed to succeed against overwhelming odds
  • overwhelming evidence that he was guilty
  • the idea won overwhelming support

pace

peɪs
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
the pace of something is the speed at which it happens
Noun
  • the pace of something
  • (at) a slow/gentle/leisurely pace
  • a brisk/fast pace
  • she walked back to the hotel at a leisurely pace
  • they kept up a brisk pace all the way home
  • the pace of change in our lives is growing ever faster

pace

peɪs
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
the pace of something is the speed at which it happens
Noun
  • the pace of something
  • (at) a slow/gentle/leisurely pace
  • a brisk/fast pace
  • the pace of life is so fast here
  • she walked back to the hotel at a leisurely pace
  • they kept up a brisk pace all the way home
  • the pace of change in our lives is growing ever faster

panel

ˈpæn(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
a panel is a small group of people who have been chosen to discuss something and give a specialist opinion about it
Noun
  • a panel of five successful business people
  • the panel’s recommendations were ignored
  • panel discussions were held throughout the conference
  • a panel requires a skilled chairperson
  • a panel of judges
  • a panel of experts
  • Noun: panellist
  • each panellist was asked to make a short closing speech

panic

ˈpænɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
panic is a state when people suddenly become very worried about something and start behaving in a slightly wild way because they are not sure what to do
Noun uncount
  • widespread panic
  • blind/sheer panic
  • panic breaks out/sets in
  • in a panic
  • with panic
  • the epidemic caused widespread panic across the continent
  • he went into a blind panic when he thought he’d lost the baby
  • a panic attack (a sudden feeling of panic)
  • there was a moment of sheer panic before the brakes finally worked
  • panic broke out when smoke was seen coming out of the kitchen
  • in a panic, he jumped out of the second floor window
  • his mother was white with panic
  • Verb: panic
  • Adjective: panicky
  • panic about something
  • whatever you do, don’t panic
  • there’s no need to panic
  • just stop panicking about it and calm down
  • I panicked and ran into the garden
  • everyone was panicking and trying to find a way out
  • I felt a panicky urge to run away
  • he felt panicky as soon as he stepped inside the plane

panic

ˈpænɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
panic is a state when people suddenly become very worried about something and start behaving in a slightly wild way because they are not sure what to do
Noun uncount
  • widespread panic
  • blind/sheer panic
  • panic breaks out/sets in
  • in a panic
  • with panic
  • the epidemic caused widespread panic across the continent
  • he went into a blind panic when he thought he’d lost the baby
  • a panic attack (a sudden feeling of panic)
  • there was a moment of sheer panic before the brakes finally worked
  • panic broke out when smoke was seen coming out of the kitchen
  • in a panic, he jumped out of the second floor window
  • his mother was white with panic
  • Verb: panic
  • Adjective: panicky
  • panic about something
  • whatever you do, don’t panic
  • there’s no need to panic
  • just stop panicking about it and calm down
  • I panicked and ran into the garden
  • everyone was panicking and trying to find a way out
  • I felt a panicky urge to run away
  • he felt panicky as soon as he stepped inside the plane

panic

ˈpænɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
if you panic, you suddenly start behaving in a slightly wild way because you are very worried about something
Verb
  • panic about something
  • whatever you do, don’t panic
  • there’s no need to panic
  • just stop panicking about it and calm down
  • I panicked and ran into the garden
  • everyone was panicking and trying to find a way out
  • Noun: panic
  • Adjective: panicky
  • widespread panic
  • blind/sheer panic
  • panic breaks out/sets in
  • in a panic
  • with panic
  • the epidemic caused widespread panic across the continent
  • he went into a blind panic when he thought he’d lost the baby
  • a panic attack (a sudden feeling of panic)
  • there was a moment of sheer panic before the brakes finally worked
  • panic broke out when smoke was seen coming out of the kitchen
  • in a panic, he jumped out of the second floor window
  • his mother was white with panic
  • I felt a panicky urge to run away
  • he felt panicky as soon as he stepped inside the plane

parade

pəˈreɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
a parade is a big public event when a lot of people or vehicles go through the streets of a town as part of a big celebration
Noun
  • the parade took over an hour to pass by the front of our shop
  • a military parade
  • there were street parades and then fireworks in the evening
  • the parade marched along 5th Avenue in Manhattan

parallel

ˈpærəlel
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
parallel lines are next to each other and stay the same distance apart as they continue. If you see a parallel between two things or situations, you think that they are similar. If events run in parallel, they happen at the same time and in the same way
Noun
  • draw/make a parallel
  • see parallels
  • it is possible to see parallels with the real-life experience of Aniello Arena
  • there are some parallels here with his earlier poems
  • you can draw parallels between the two novels
  • the minister drew a parallel between the challenges of twenty years ago and today
  • the fall in crime has run in parallel with increased university admissions
  • Adjective: parallel
  • Verb: parallel
  • Adverb: parallel
  • a shape with two parallel lines
  • the two cases were exactly parallel
  • my work has always paralleled my life experiences
  • the road runs parallel to the railway line for 20 miles
  • Arensky's career ran parallel with some of Russia's most famous composers

parallel

ˈpærəlel
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
parallel lines are next to each other and stay the same distance apart as they continue. If you see a parallel between two things or situations, you think that they are similar. If events run in parallel, they happen at the same time and in the same way
Noun
  • draw/make a parallel
  • see parallels
  • it is possible to see parallels with the real-life experience of Aniello Arena
  • there are some parallels here with his earlier poems
  • you can draw parallels between the two novels
  • the minister drew a parallel between the challenges of twenty years ago and today
  • the fall in crime has run in parallel with increased university admissions
  • Adjective: parallel
  • Verb: parallel
  • Adverb: parallel
  • a shape with two parallel lines
  • the two cases were exactly parallel
  • my work has always paralleled my life experiences
  • the road runs parallel to the railway line for 20 miles
  • Arensky's career ran parallel with some of Russia's most famous composers

particle

ˈpɑː(r)tɪk(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
a particle is a very small piece of something
Noun
  • lead particles are released into the atmosphere
  • the average person breathes in around 50 billion dust particles an hour
  • Newton claimed that light travels in minute particles
  • particles that are smaller than a grain of sand

party

ˈpɑː(r)ti
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
to party means to have a good time by being with friends, and doing things like drinking or dancing or talking. If you party the night away, you spend a whole evening and night doing this
Verb
  • we partied the night away
  • let’s party!
  • he's been working all day and out partying all night
  • since it was the last night of our holiday, we all celebrated and partied
  • Noun: party
  • throw a party
  • a birthday party
  • a dinner party
  • a street party
  • a house-warming party
  • there was plenty to eat at the party
  • he had his ninth birthday party last week
  • they threw a lavish house-warming party (a party to celebrate someone moving into a new home)

party

ˈpɑː(r)ti
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
to party means to have a good time by being with friends, and doing things like drinking or dancing or talking. If you party the night away, you spend a whole evening and night doing this
Verb
  • I spent most of my time meeting new people and partying
  • we partied the night away
  • let’s party!
  • he's been working all day and out partying all night
  • since it was the last night of our holiday, we all celebrated and partied
  • Noun: party
  • throw a party
  • a birthday party
  • a dinner party
  • a street party
  • a house-warming party
  • there was plenty to eat at the party
  • he had his ninth birthday party last week
  • they threw a lavish house-warming party (a party to celebrate someone moving into a new home)

pass on

ˈpɑːs ˌɒn
Upper Intermediate
pp142-143
to pass something on means to give it to someone else after someone has given it to you
Phrasal verb
  • please pass on our thanks to everyone
  • I’m phoning to pass on a message
  • can you pass this on to Gemma?
  • it’s just a rumour. Not worth passing it on

pass out

ˈpɑːs ˌaʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
if you pass out, you become unconscious for a short time
Phrasal verb
  • I thought I was going to pass out
  • he passed out with the heat
  • I almost passed out with the pain
  • it nearly made me pass out
  • I screamed so loud I almost passed out

pavement

ˈpeɪvmənt
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
the pavement is the slightly raised area at the side of a street where people can walk and where cars are not allowed. The American word is sidewalk
Noun
  • I never park on the pavement
  • walking along the pavement
  • a narrow pavement
  • a car mounted the pavement (drove on to it)
  • sidewalk cafes

peak

piːk
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
the peak of something is the time when it is biggest or most successful
Noun
  • hit/reach a peak
  • the prison population hit a peak of 450,000 in 2006
  • inflation reached a peak of 15% last year
  • share prices have risen to an all-time peak
  • the peak period for tourism
  • the price of petrol has fallen from its peak of £1.49 a litre
  • a young tennis player who hasn’t reached his peak yet
  • Murray is at his peak now
  • Verb: peak
  • interest rates peaked at 16%
  • the band's popularity peaked in the 1990s
  • oil production will soon peak and then decline

pedestrian

pəˈdestriən
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
pedestrians are people who are walking in a town or city, in contrast to people who are driving or cycling or riding in buses. To pedestrianise part of a town or city means to make it into an area where cars and other vehicles are not allowed
Noun
  • drivers must stop for pedestrians at zebra crossings
  • a pedestrian bridge
  • a pedestrian precinct (an area just for pedestrians, not cars)
  • a pedestrian crossing (where pedestrians can cross the road)
  • better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists
  • plans to pedestrianise the High Street
  • a fully pedestrianised town centre

peer

pɪə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
to peer at something or someone means to look very carefully at them
Verb
  • peering out, he saw an old man
  • he wiped the window and peered out
  • she was peering intently at the prices
  • she peered again at the water below, and decided not to jump
  • he bent down to peer at the spider

performance

pə(r)ˈfɔː(r)məns
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
a performance is the presentation of a play or musical event in front of an audience
Noun
  • put on/stage a performance
  • they put on performances in local schools
  • the performance will begin in five minutes
  • the performance was recorded and released as a DVD
  • musical and theatrical performances
  • Verb: perform
  • Noun: performer
  • Adjective: performing
  • the play was performed in several regional cities before arriving in London
  • the school orchestra performs two concerts each year
  • the show ended with all of the performers singing the national anthem
  • there are some genuinely talented performers in the group
  • the performing arts (acting, playing music, etc)

permit

ˈpɜː(r)mɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
a permit is a document that proves that you have been given official permission to do something
Noun
  • I had to fill in four forms to get a work permit
  • apply for a residency permit
  • you need a travel permit
  • my permit has expired (I no longer have permission to do what it allowed)
  • do you have a permit for that gun?
  • Verb: permit
  • Noun: permission
  • Adjective: permitted
  • Adjective: permissible
  • students are not permited to bring tobacco onto the campus
  • a card which legally permits you to drive a car
  • if you’re under 18 you must have writtem permission from a parent
  • permission was granted to start building the new swimming pool
  • payments in cash are no longer permissible
  • noise from the establishment was above the permissible level

persistent

pə(r)ˈsɪstənt
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
persistent activity carries on even though people don’t want it to. Someone who is persistent carries on what they are doing, even if it is difficult or if people don’t want them to
Adjective
  • one of the city’s most persistent fraudsters
  • he still heard the persistent rain splashing outside
  • he refused to answer her persistent questions
  • I felt under constant, persistent threat
  • persistent offenders face losing their licence
  • Adverb: persistently
  • Noun: persistence
  • Verb: persist
  • the weather during June was persistently bad
  • she pursued Harding persistently, until he reluctantly confessed
  • polite persistence can be very effective
  • your persistence and local knowledge proved invaluable
  • the problem persisted for weeks
  • if the symptoms persist, see your doctor

perspective

pə(r)ˈspektɪv
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
perspective is a sensible way of looking at a situation and judging how important or serious it is. If you put something into perspective, you think about it and come to a sensible decision about how important it really is compared to other things
Noun
  • a fresh/new perspective
  • a different perspective
  • offer/present/give a perspective
  • out of perspective
  • you need to put things into perspective (realise that things are not as bad or serious as you think)
  • try to keep a sense of perspective
  • I think you’ve got things out of perspective (you think they are more serious than they really are)
  • living in another country gives you a different perspective on life

perspective

pə(r)ˈspektɪv
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
your perspective is the way you see or understand a situation
Noun
  • from our perspective, we don’t see enough rehabilitation
  • the story is seen from the monster’s perspective
  • my illness has given me a new perspective on life
  • try to see things from a broader perspective

persuasion

pə(r)ˈsweɪʒ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
persuasion is the act of talking to someone and making them believe what you want them to believe or do what you want them to do, even if they do not want to at first
Noun uncount
  • gentle/firm persuasion
  • be open to persuasion
  • she used her powers of persuasion to convince him to come out
  • he didn’t need much persuasion to come to the cinema
  • I’m open to persuasion (I’m prepared to listen to what someone has to say)
  • he tried to keep me with gentle persuasion and higher pay, but I was determined to leave
  • Verb: persuade
  • Adjective: persuasive
  • Adverb: persuasively
  • Noun: persuasiveness
  • persuade someone to do something
  • they didn’t need much persuading
  • how do I persuade my colleagues to help?
  • no one was persuaded by his argument
  • his analysis is highly persuasive
  • there was persuasive evidence of his guilt
  • she spoke clearly and persuasively
  • the author persuasively argues for tax reform
  • buyers make purchases based on the persuasiveness of the salesperson
  • his persuasiveness overcame all the objections

phase

feɪz
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
a phase is one stage in the development of something
Noun
  • there are four distinct phases that everyone goes through
  • the first phase of the project
  • the second phase of the building work
  • a difficult phase in the country’s history
  • the final phase of the installation was completed today
  • the next phase of flight testing was delayed by two weeks
  • Verb: phase
  • phase something in
  • phase something out
  • new systems will be phased in early next year (gradually introduced)
  • they are gradually phasing out the old desktop style computers (stopping using them, but in stages, not all at the same time)

phenomenon

fəˈnɒmɪnən
Upper Intermediate
pp110-111
a phenomenon is something that happens or exists
Noun
  • a natural phenomenon
  • a new/recent phenomenon
  • a rare/common phenomenon
  • the recent phenomenon of taking selfies
  • the storm was a natural phenomenon of great power
  • this is an extremely rare phenomenon, unheard of so far in the U.S. and Canada
  • increased consumption of tomato juice is a common phenomenon on board airliners

pick

pɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
if you pick fruit or vegetables or flowers, you take them from the plant that they are growing on so that you can eat them or show them indoors
Verb
  • we’re going to pick mushrooms this afternoon
  • freshly picked tomatoes
  • pick and wash the herbs and then chop finely

pile

paɪl
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
a pile is an arrangement of things on top of each other
Noun
  • he sorted the rubbish into piles
  • a pile of books
  • she arranged the letters in neat piles
  • a pile of junk in the corner of the room
  • we slept on piles of old newspapers
  • Verb: pile
  • she sat at a desk piled high with papers
  • there were some old clothes piled in the corner

pin

pɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
a pin is a piece of metal that is put into someone’s body to hold together a bone that has been broken
Noun
  • the surgeon then inserts a metal pin to keep the bone in its new place
  • six weeks later the pin will be removed in the clinic
  • internal pins and or screws are used to hold the bone in place
  • Verb: pin
  • I had to have my leg pinned

pitch

pɪtʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
to pitch something means to talk about it and try to persuade people to buy it or to do business with you
Verb
  • pitch for something
  • pitch to someone
  • they were asked to pitch their ideas to the panel
  • there were three of them pitching for the contract
  • he pitched his novel to several different publishers
  • she spent a month pitching for business
  • Noun: pitch
  • a sales pitch
  • I only had ten minutes to make my pitch

planning permission

ˈplænɪŋ pə(r)ˌmɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
in Britain, planning permission is official permission from a local authority that allows someone to build a house or make changes to an existing house
Noun uncount
  • apply for planning permission
  • grant planning permission
  • refuse planning permission
  • the club has applied for planning permission to extend the clubhouse
  • planning permission was granted last April
  • the proposal was refused planning permission
  • planning permission is not normally needed for minor works

plant

plɑːnt
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
a plant is a living thing such as a tree or bush that grows out of the ground. If you plant something in the ground, you put seeds or a young plant in the earth so that a plant will grow. If someone plants a bomb or other device, they leave it there so that it will explode at a later time
Noun
  • none of the other plants can survive here
  • house plants (plants that you grow in pots inside your home)
  • my pea plants prefer moist soil
  • edible wild plants (that you can safely eat)
  • this very popular plant grows well indoors
  • Verb: plant
  • we planted corn and barley (put seeds into the ground so that corn and barley plants would grow)
  • my grandfather cleared the field and planted this orchard
  • terrorists had planted a bomb inside the cinema
  • a demolition unit planted explosives on one of the platforms to destroy it
  • a landmine had been planted just over the border

plaster

ˈplɑːstə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
if you have an arm or leg in plaster, it is covered in a solid substance that makes a sleeve to protect a broken bone while it is recovering. The sleeve is called a plaster cast and is made from plaster of Paris, which is a mixture of a white powder and water that becomes firm and solid once it is dry
Noun uncount
  • your leg will be in plaster for at least six weeks
  • she left hospital with her wrist in plaster
  • I couldn’t type with a plaster cast on my hand

plead

pliːd
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
in a court, when someone pleads guilty or pleads not guilty to a crime, they formally tell the judge whether they are guilty or not guilty
Verb
  • plead guilty/not guilty (to something)
  • he will be pleading not guilty
  • how do you plead – guilty or not guilty?
  • he had already pleaded guilty to the charges
  • Noun: plea
  • enter a plea
  • neither defendant entered a plea
  • his guilty plea was withdrawn and all charges were dropped

plot

plɒt
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
the plot of a story, film, or play is all the linked the events that happen during it
Noun
  • a complicated/simple plot
  • a plot develops/unfolds
  • the plot was very complicated
  • a long book with a surprisingly simple plot
  • the plot was interesting, but the writing was awful
  • a plot twist (an unexpected event in the story that is deliberately meant to surprise people)

plough

plaʊ
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
if you plough money into something, you invest money in it
Verb
  • we ploughed all the money back into the business
  • he ploughed the profits into a new venture
  • they ploughed all their savings into the business
  • his idea was to plough their money into a chain of shops

plunge

plʌndʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
to plunge means to decrease quickly by a large amount
Verb
  • sales have plunged
  • profits have plunged
  • share prices have plunged
  • temperatures plunged to minus 15
  • crime rates plunged dramatically under the new mayor
  • Noun: plunge
  • a plunge in house prices
  • the crisis led to a plunge in consumer confidence

plunge

plʌndʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
to plunge means to decrease quickly by a large amount
Verb
  • the number of cars that were stolen plunged by almost 70%
  • sales have plunged
  • profits have plunged
  • share prices have plunged
  • temperatures plunged to minus 15
  • crime rates plunged dramatically under the new mayor
  • Noun: plunge
  • a plunge in house prices
  • the crisis led to a plunge in consumer confidence

pointless

ˈpɔɪntləs
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
something that is pointless has no purpose or end result, which makes people think it is bad and unnecessary
Adjective
  • games like that are dull and pointless
  • the trip turned out to be a pointless waste of money
  • arguing with him was just pointless
  • the film's ending was utterly pointless after everything that had come before

poisoning

ˈpɔɪz(ə)nɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
poisoning is illness or death caused by someone eating, drinking, or breathing something poisonous
Noun
  • there was a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning
  • rotten mushrooms can cause food poisoning
  • she died of accidental alcohol poisoning
  • Verb: poison
  • Noun: poison
  • Adjective: poisonous
  • we were worried that we had been poisoned
  • he killed his victims by poisoning them
  • she poisoned him with arsenic
  • he was accused of giving them poison
  • a cake laced with poison (containing it)
  • poisonous plants
  • a poisonous snake

polish

ˈpɒlɪʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
to polish something means to rub it with a cloth or a special substance to make it shine
Verb
  • polish shoes/boots
  • polish a surface/mirror
  • I need to polish my shoes before I go out
  • to polish the floor
  • the brightly polished surface of her desk
  • Noun: polish
  • boot/shoe polish
  • furniture/floor polish
  • metal/wood polish
  • spray the miror with polish, then wipe it clean
  • the heavy scent of wood polish
  • black shoe polish

poll

pəʊl
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
a poll is an activity in which a large number of people are asked what they think about something or how they will vote in an election. You can also refer to the elections that take place when a country chooses a new government as the polls
Noun
  • an opinion poll
  • the results of a recent opinion poll
  • no opinion polls were allowed in the week before the election
  • he was defeated at the polls three times
  • the polls suggested that Rocard was more popular than Mitterrand
  • the poll found that neither candidate was popular among voters
  • Verb: poll
  • over 6,000 people from various backgrounds were polled
  • 43% of voters polled were undecided

pop

pɒp
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
if you pop something into a space, you put it there quickly or casually
Verb
  • pop the card in here and then key in your PIN
  • pop your coat in the hall and come through to the dining room
  • I’ll just pop the chicken in the oven

postpone

pəʊsˈpəʊn
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
to postpone an event, meeting, activity etc means to delay it until a later time or day
Verb
  • we’ll have to postpone the trip
  • the match has been postponed
  • the meeting’s been postponed until next Thursday
  • the trial has been postponed indefinitely (no one knows when it will eventually happen)
  • Noun: postponement
  • they’ve announced the postponement of all today’s matches

potential

pəˈtenʃ(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
you use potential to refer to someone or something who might develop into a particular type of person or thing in the the future
Adjective
  • if we’re honest, we’re all potential hoarders
  • who are your current and potential customers?
  • the building was a potential fire hazard
  • the risks may outweigh potential benefits
  • let your potential employer know you are willing to learn
  • Noun: potential
  • Adverb: potentially
  • she never realised her true potential
  • freedom to explore your own potential
  • five million potentially productive workers
  • potentially dangerous weather conditions

pour

pɔː(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
if you pour a liquid from a container, you hold the container at an angle so that the liquid comes out of it
Verb
  • pour something off/away
  • pour something over something
  • pour away the oil from the pan
  • pour the mixture over the biscuit pieces
  • she poured the sauce over the fish
  • remove the meat from the oven and pour off most of the fat (leave some fat in the container)
  • he poured the tea into large metal mugs

poverty

ˈpɒvə(r)ti
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
poverty is the continuous state of not having enough money to be able to pay for essential things like food, clothing, or rent
Noun uncount
  • the hero was living in poverty
  • our aim is a world free from extreme poverty
  • overcrowded cities suffered from widespread poverty
  • child poverty is the worst problem we face in this country

poverty

ˈpɒvə(r)ti
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
poverty is the continuous state of not having enough money to be able to pay for essential things like food, clothing, or rent
Noun uncount
  • the hero was living in poverty
  • our aim is a world free from extreme poverty
  • overcrowded cities suffered from widespread poverty
  • child poverty is the worst problem we face in this country

powerful

ˈpaʊə(r)f(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
a powerful action is one that is done with a lot of force and strength
Adjective
  • she hit a powerful drive and made a hole in one
  • he received a powerful blow on the chest that knocked him down
  • the soldiers rapidly fell back in the face of a powerful attack
  • the explosion was so powerful that it caused nearby buildings to shake
  • Noun: power
  • Adverb: powerfully
  • the great power of hydrogen bombs
  • exercises to improve your strength and leg power
  • a powerfully built man

precede

prɪˈsiːd
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
if one thing precedes another, it happens before the other thing
Verb
  • the meal was preceded by a few short speeches
  • theories in physics often precede actual observation
  • George W Bush immediately preceded Barack Obama as president of the USA
  • the meeting preceded the press conference
  • Adjective: preceding
  • read the last two sentences in the preceding paragraph again
  • prices moved up more slowly in October than in the preceding few months

precious

ˈpreʃəs
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
something that is precious is worth a lot of money
Adjective
  • precious stones/metals
  • the first bag was full of precious things
  • a craftsman in precious metals (valuable metals such as gold and silver)
  • a crown sparkling with precious stones (jewels such as diamonds and rubies)
  • salt was a precious item for the Romans
  • don’t drop that vase! It’s extremely precious

predictable

prɪˈdɪktəb(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
if something is predictable, it happens in exactly the way you think it will. If a film or story is predictable, it is not very interesting because you can easily guess how it will finish
Adjective
  • highly/utterly/totally predictable
  • a predictable result/outcome
  • the ending of the film was quite predictable
  • the utterly predictable result was that sea levels rose
  • other environmental changes are less predictable
  • his objections were both predictable and unwelcome
  • Adverb: predictably
  • Verb: predict
  • Noun: prediction
  • accurately predict something
  • successfully predict something
  • an accurate prediction
  • a prediction proves (to be) right/wrong
  • the results were, predictably, not good
  • opinions were predictably divided
  • she successfully predicted the outcome of the general election
  • can history help us predict the future?
  • her predictions proved to be correct
  • Smith has been criticised for his inaccurate predictions

present

prɪˈzent
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
if something presents a challenge, difficulty, or opportunity, it causes it or provides it
Verb
  • the monster presents a serious challenge
  • the war presented unique challenges for industry
  • this situation presents both opportunity and risk
  • a number of other cases present similar difficulties

pressure group

ˈpreʃə(r) ɡruːp
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
a pressure group is a group that tries to influence people’s opinions or achieve political change
Noun
  • an environmental pressure group
  • an anti-smoking pressure group
  • they set up a pressure group to campaign for change
  • some pressure groups get attention because of their expert knowledge

pretend

prɪˈtend
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
if you pretend, you behave in a way that deliberately suggests something about you that is not true
Verb
  • they pretend to be someone different
  • those TV programmes everyone pretends to hate
  • we all pretended not to hear what he’d said
  • she had decided to pretend that nothing had happened
  • I had to pretend I really liked the film
  • Noun: pretence
  • Jess made a pretence of drinking the water (she didn’t actually drink it)
  • his interest was not all pretence

pride

praɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
pride is a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction you get when you do something well
Noun uncount
  • take pride in (doing) something
  • people take pride in what they do here
  • she showed us her award with great pride
  • she could see the pride in her parents’ faces
  • with immense pride she hung her medal round her neck
  • Verb: pride yourself
  • Adjective: proud
  • Adverb: proudly
  • he prides himself on the quality of his work
  • we’re very proud of you
  • I’m particularly proud of this painting
  • she proudly showed us her diploma

priest

priːst
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
in the Christian church, a priest is a person who has a particular formal role. In some other religions, people with a particular role are also called priests
Noun
  • a parish/Catholic priest
  • a woman priest
  • the priest consulted an astrological chart
  • campaigning to have more women priests
  • the new parish priest (the member of the clergy who is responsible for a particular church and its surrounding area)
  • with them came priests and bishops, and monasteries were soon established
  • Adverb: priestly
  • he had no priestly authority
  • a priestly gown

privacy

ˈprɪvəsi
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
privacy is the state in which you can control what other people know about you. If you have no privacy, people can watch you or find out things about you that you do not want them to know
Noun uncount
  • new laws on data protection and privacy
  • advice on how to protect your privacy online (stop other people getting information about you, such as your passwords or bank card details)
  • the high fence around the garden ensured a degree of privacy
  • some like having neighbours nearby, while others like the idea of complete privacy
  • Adjective: private
  • she’s a very private person (she never says much about herself to anyone)
  • he has the right to a private life (to live without people watching and reporting on what he does)

procedure

prəˈsiːdʒə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
a procedure is a set of actions that you regularly do in the same way in order to do something correctly
Noun
  • follow a procedure
  • adopt a procedure
  • normal/usual/standard procedure
  • our normal procedure is to confirm bookings by email
  • the usual procedure for making reservations
  • you didn’t follow the correct procedure
  • the company’s standard procedures for taking on new staff
  • they adopted new procedures to prevent such mistakes happening again

process

ˈprəʊses
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
to process a claim, application, business transaction etc. means to check that everything is acceptable and to authorise it to take place
Verb
  • the machine wouldn’t process the transaction
  • all the applications are now processed electronically (using computers)
  • we’ll process the claim and the money should reach your bank account early next week
  • Noun: process
  • the approval process normally takes two weeks

productivity

ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvəti
Upper Intermediate
pp110-111
productivity is the rate at which goods are produced or work is done, measured by calculating how much time is taken for different tasks and how much money it costs
Noun uncount
  • productivity levels
  • increase/improve productivity
  • industrial productivity
  • productivity grows/rises
  • productivity falls/declines
  • he expected to see productivity levels decline in the winter months
  • there are considerable opportunities to increase productivity in developing countries
  • a sharp rise in industrial productivity between 1970 and 1975
  • factors that significantly affect productivity
  • Adjective: productive
  • Adverb: productively
  • highly productive
  • I was happier and more productive before the new boss arrived
  • last month was our most productive for over four years
  • the workforce was highly productive
  • I can work so much more productively from home than if I’m in the office
  • the time was productively spent developing a new logo

prohibit

prəʊˈhɪbɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
if the authorities prohibit something, they officially say it cannot be done or cannot be allowed to happen
Verb
  • strictly/expressly prohibit something
  • smoking is prohibited in public places
  • the law prohibits marriage under 16 years of age
  • the government prohibited all unofficial political activities
  • alcohol is strictly prohibited anywhere on the premises
  • a recent law prohibits the use of mobile phones while driving
  • Adjective: prohibited
  • Noun: prohibition
  • murder is a prohibited act everywhere in the world
  • the current smoking prohibition applies to all staff and students

projected

prəˈdʒektɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp142-143
a projected amount or quantity is what someone expects to be the outcome of a process or activity because they have made some calculations
Adjective
  • she presented the projected sales figures to the board
  • projected oil production for 2020 is 12 billion barrels
  • the projected costs are around 50 million euros
  • Verb: project
  • Noun: projection
  • be projected to do something
  • latest projections
  • long-term projections
  • production was projected to fall sharply
  • global population is projected to pass 10 billion this century
  • latest projections suggest the deficit will fall by only 5% next year
  • initial projections turned out to be too low

promote

prəˈməʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
if you promote something, you support or encourage it, and want people to become aware of it
Verb
  • he went on TV to promote his latest book
  • a new campaign to promote recycling
  • an effort to promote trade between the two countries
  • she is raising awareness and promoting peace through education
  • Noun: promotion
  • the promotion of something
  • trade promotion activity
  • the promotion of sport gained support from other ministers

promote

prəˈməʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if someone is promoted in the organization they work for, they are given a better and more important job
Verb
  • Noun: promotion
  • get/achieve/earn promotion
  • rapid promotion
  • deserved/merited/well-earned promotion
  • promotion to something
  • William was proud of Jan’s rapid promotion
  • it was a well-earned promotion to Chief Constable

promotion

prəˈməʊʃən
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
promotion within an organization is an official change in job to a better and more important job
Noun
  • get/achieve/earn promotion
  • rapid promotion
  • deserved/merited/well-earned promotion
  • promotion to something
  • I got a promotion after just six months
  • William was proud of Jan’s rapid promotion
  • it was a well-earned promotion to Chief Constable
  • Verb: promote
  • promote someone to something
  • get promoted to head of department

property

ˈprɒpə(r)ti
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
property is land, houses or flats. The word property is used especially when talking about its value, its ownership, or when someone is buying or selling land or houses
Noun
  • property prices in London have risen 10% this year
  • military property is public property, not private property
  • demand for residential property has increased
  • a large one-bedroom property suitable for a couple or a small family
  • thanks to rising property values, your flat is now worth £400,000

prospective

prəˈspektɪv
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
a prospective employee, buyer, client etc. is someone who is not yet the employee, buyer or client of something, but who wants to be and is trying to be
Adjective
  • prospective entrepreneurs present their plans to a panel of investors
  • companies send recruiters to colleges to interview prospective employees
  • these services are free to the prospective buyer
  • the school holds annual meetings for prospective parents (parents who think they want to send their children to the school)
  • the faculty welcomes prospective students wishing to visit departments

psychological

ˌsaɪkəˈlɒdʒɪk(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
psychological means relating to someone’s mind and thoughts
Adjective
  • these plots fulfil a deep psychological need for moral order
  • doctors had dismissed her illness as “purely psychological” (they believed she only thought she was ill and wasn’t really ill)
  • the psychological well-being of children is very important
  • he was known to have a psychological disorder
  • it may result in psychological and social problems
  • Noun: psychology
  • Adverb: psychologically
  • her teaching interests include general psychology and developmental psychology
  • all participants were physically and psychologically healthy
  • his experiences in the war left him psychologically damaged

publicise

ˈpʌblɪsaɪz
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
when something is publicised, information about it is released so that people get to know about it
Verb
  • be widely/highly/heavily publicised
  • she was in Liverpool, publicising her latest book
  • news of the Royal visit was widely publicised
  • a highly publicised speech by the prime minister
  • Noun: publicity
  • a publicity campaign
  • a publicity stunt
  • favourable/good publicity
  • bad/negative/unfavourable/unwelcome publicity
  • there’s no such thing as bad publicity (it’s better for people to hear something about you, even if it is bad, than to hear nothing about you)
  • the incident exposed the college to some unwelcome publicity
  • the advance publicity for the show was very effective
  • parents mounted a publicity campaign to save the school from closing
  • it was just a cheap publicity stunt (a silly event that that was intended only to draw attention to something)

publicity

pʌbˈlɪsəti
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
publicity is attention that is given to something in newspapers and magazines
Noun uncount
  • a publicity campaign
  • a publicity stunt
  • favourable/good publicity
  • bad/negative/unfavourable/unwelcome publicity
  • negative publicity could do a lot of damage
  • there’s no such thing as bad publicity (it’s better for people to hear something about you, even if it is bad, than to hear nothing about you)
  • the incident exposed the college to some unwelcome publicity
  • the advance publicity for the show was very effective
  • parents mounted a publicity campaign to save the school from closing
  • it was just a cheap publicity stunt (a silly event that that was intended only to draw attention to something)
  • Verb: publicise
  • be widely/highly/heavily publicised
  • she was in Liverpool, publicising her latest book
  • news of the Royal visit was widely publicised
  • a highly publicised speech by the prime minister

pull out

ˈpʊl ˌaʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
when a vehicle or a driver pulls out, the vehicle moves from the side of the road into the main part of the road
Phrasal verb
  • she braked hard as a vehicle pulled out in front of her without warning
  • don’t pull out yet – there’s a lorry coming

pull over

ˈpʊl ˌəʊvə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
if you pull over, you drive to the side of the road and stop your car. If the police pull you over, they make you move to the side of the road and stop your car
Phrasal verb
  • we had to pull over until the rain eased off
  • we pulled over to the side of the road
  • she signalled to us to pull over
  • we pulled over and got out of the car
  • Harris was pulled over on a routine traffic check

purchase

ˈpɜː(r)tʃəs
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
purchase is the act of buying something. A purchase is something that you have bought
Noun
  • an impulse purchase (something you buy suddenly without planning to buy it)
  • I went home with my purchases
  • they put pressure on us to make a purchase
  • the receipt shows the date of purchase
  • local restaurants offer delicious food for purchase
  • the full purchase price will be returned, excluding shipping costs
  • Verb: purchase
  • Noun: purchaser
  • the original property was purchased in 1933
  • do you recommend purchasing tickets in advance?
  • the house was sold to a private purchaser
  • we are negotiating with a number of potential purchasers

put forward

ˌpʊt ˈfɔː(r)wə(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
to put something forward means to suggest that it is true or is something that should happen or be used
Phrasal verb
  • this argument has been put forward as a reason to close the airport
  • if they put her name forward she might get an interview for the job
  • Douglas put forward a proposal for a new tax
  • many suggestions were put forward but little progress was made

put off

ˈpʊt ˌɒf
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
to put something off means to delay it until a later time
Phrasal verb
  • put off doing something
  • try to put off sensitive topics until later in the day
  • I couldn’t put the decision off any longer
  • I was trying to put off telling him
  • don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today

put off

pʊt ˈɒf
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
to put something off means to delay it until a later time
Phrasal verb
  • put off doing something
  • they promised to fix it, but they keep putting it off
  • I couldn’t put the decision off any longer
  • I was trying to put off telling him
  • don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today

put together

ˈpʊt təˌɡeðə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
if you put something together, you make it by joining all its different pieces to each other
Phrasal verb
  • when I tried to put it together, I realised there was a piece missing
  • he put together the bookcase with glue and no nails
  • the cupboard was very badly put together
  • I thought my bike was broken, but dad helped me put it together again

put up with

pʊt ˈʌp wɪð
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
to put up with something that you do not like or do not want means to accept it in a patient way without complaining
Phrasal verb
  • I can’t put up with that noise any longer
  • I don’t know why they put up with it
  • we left at 5 and just had to put up with the rush hour traffic
  • we have to put up with very slow broadband speeds here

qualify

ˈkwɒlɪfaɪ
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
if you qualify as a doctor, lawyer, architect etc, you pass the necessary exams and are allowed to work in that profession
Verb
  • qualify as someone
  • qualify in a profession
  • qualify someone to do something
  • she qualified in 2003
  • he qualified as a solicitor but took a job in the music industry
  • she hopes to qualify in dentistry next year
  • her degree qualifies her to teach at secondary level
  • Adjective: qualified
  • Antonym: unqualified
  • Noun: qualification
  • a qualified teacher
  • some staff are professionally qualified, others are still studying for their qualifications
  • make sure you use a qualified financial advisor
  • some well-qualified candidates
  • unqualified school leavers (people who leave school with no qualifications)
  • he’s got excellent qualifications
  • good academic qualifications
  • employers will demand proof of your qualifications

quarter

ˈkwɔː(r)tə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
a particular quarter is a small area of a town or city where the same sort of activities take place or the same sort of people live
Noun
  • one of the poorer quarters of Naples
  • all big cities have poorer quarters
  • Deptford is becoming an artistic quarter
  • the houses are different from those in the Russian quarter
  • an artisan quarter (an area with a lot of people who make things with their hands)
  • the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham

rags

ræɡz
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
rags are old clothes that are not in good condition. If someone is wearing rags, their clothes are in very bad condition because they do not have enough money to buy proper clothes. A rags-to-riches story is about someone who was once very poor but who becomes rich
Noun plural
  • he never bathed, had horrible teeth, and dressed in rags
  • his story is one of rags to riches
  • the rags-to-riches tale of an orphan from Dublin
  • his rise from rags to riches

raid

reɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
if the police raid somewhere, they go in there using force in order to look for criminals or illegal goods. If criminals raid somewhere, they go in there using force in order to steal things. When the military raid somewhere, they make a sudden and violent attack there
Verb
  • the police raided a cafe looking for the stolen money
  • the authorities raided the farm and found weapons and ammunition
  • four gunmen raided the warehouse
  • pirates regularly raided the island in the 19th century
  • soldiers raided their village during the night
  • the British raided and burned Washington, D.C. in 1814
  • Noun: raid
  • Noun: raider
  • conduct/launch/stage a raid
  • a bombing raid
  • an air raid
  • three guns were seized in a police raid on his home
  • police launched raids on the homes of the gang members
  • the next night another air raid caused 13 deaths (an attack when bombs are dropped from planes in the air)
  • bombing raids had destroyed thousands of buildings
  • masked raiders escaped with jewellery and cash
  • the raiders attacked the nightwatchman who suffered head injuries

raise

reɪz
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
to raise something means to tell people about it or make them think about it more
Verb
  • he also raises an alarm that this could be the last chance we have
  • a campaign to raise awareness of AIDS (tell people more about it)
  • he didn’t raise the subject of money (he didn’t talk about it)
  • the accident has raised concerns about safety regulations
  • your letter raises two important questions
  • no one else raised any objection

raise

reɪz
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
if you raise your voice, you begin to speak more loudly, for example because you are angry or because you need to shout so that people can hear you
Verb
  • he would never raise his voice to her (speak angrily to her)
  • Luke had to raise his voice to make himself heard
  • the painter raised his voice in protest
  • don’t you raise your voice at me

rally

ˈræli
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
a rally is a big public event that is held in support of a political party or of an organisation such as a charity
Noun
  • attend/join a rally
  • a mass rally
  • hold/stage/organise a rally
  • a campaign rally
  • a protest rally
  • an election rally
  • several MPs attended the rally in Glasgow yesterday
  • mass rallies were held across the country
  • a rally in support of the miners

random

ˈrændəm
Upper Intermediate
pp136-137
random events or choices happen without planning, so they cannot be predicted
Adjective
  • a random sample
  • seemingly random
  • purely/totally random
  • the results turned out to be random
  • take a random sample of 20 people
  • the robbery seemed to be entirely random
  • the lottery machine picks random numbers
  • a seemingly random attack
  • the patterns we observed were purely random
  • Noun: random
  • Adverb: randomly
  • Noun: randomness
  • at random
  • randomly generated
  • each contestant picks numbers at random
  • here are two examples taken at random
  • the program will randomly choose the next four numbers
  • randomly generated passwords
  • seek to achieve randomness in your sampling
  • there's a lot of randomness to life

rank

ræŋk
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
how someone or something ranks is how good or bad they are compared with other similar people or things. If you rank people or things, you say how good or bad you think they are compared to each other
Verb
  • Russia ranks second for the number of billionaires
  • the restaurant ranks highly for service
  • how would you rank the four cars in order of comfort?
  • a tennis player who ranks ninth in the world
  • Noun: rank
  • Noun: ranking
  • China is now in the top rank of the world’s trading nations
  • she still stands at number one in the world rankings (the list of the best players)

rank

ræŋk
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
in some organizations such as the army or the police, your rank is the position or grade that you hold. A general holds a high rank, while a private holds the lowest rank. You can say that the general is a high-ranking officer. If someone started with a low rank and now has a high rank, you can say that they rose through the ranks
Noun
  • high/low rank
  • achieve the rank of...
  • rise to the rank of...
  • my grandfather rose to the rank of captain
  • she was lower in rank than her old schoolfriend
  • a naval officer of high rank
  • Combining form: -ranking
  • high-ranking officers
  • a top-ranking civil servant

rank

ræŋk
Upper Intermediate
pp84-85
the rank of something or someone is their position on a scale
Noun
  • China is now in the top rank of the world’s trading nations
  • Verb: rank Noun: ranking
  • high/low ranking
  • the restaurant ranks highly for service
  • how would you rank the four cars in order of comfort?
  • a tennis player who ranks ninth in the world
  • she still stands at number one in the world rankings

rash

ræʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
a rash is a lot of red spots on someone’s skin caused by an illness or a bad reaction to something they have eaten or touched
Noun
  • a heat rash
  • a skin rash
  • nappy rash
  • a sudden rash appeared after the wasp sting
  • your skin will be painful in the area where the rash appears
  • a faint pink rash and a slight fever
  • he tried not to scratch, although the heat rash was really itchy
  • I wanted the doctor to look at my skin rash

react

riˈækt
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
when you react, you do something because of something else that has just happened
Verb
  • the police reacted quickly and closed the roads
  • he reacted to the insult by punching Mike in the face
  • she reacted angrily to the comments
  • customers reacted negatively to the price rises
  • Noun: reaction
  • his reaction to the news was to burst into tears
  • the union’s immediate reaction was to call a strike

reception

rɪˈsepʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
a reception is a big formal party for a celebration such as a wedding, or in order to welcome someone
Noun
  • a wedding reception
  • a civic reception
  • an official reception
  • hold a reception
  • a reception for 500 people was held in the evening
  • delegates were welcomed to the conference at a civic reception in the town hall
  • the couple were given £2,000 towards their wedding reception (to help pay for it)

recession

rɪˈseʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
if there is a recession, there is much less business activity in a country, so some businesses do not make enough money to survive and some people lose their jobs
Noun
  • a global/worldwide/world recession
  • a deep/severe recession
  • a prolonged recession
  • a recession deepens
  • be in recession
  • the whole world is facing a global recession
  • an economic recession
  • the recession deepened in November
  • the country is in recession
  • since the recession ended, companies have created nearly 4.5 million jobs
  • the economy could sink into recession again
  • the measure failed to get the country out of recession

record

ˈrekɔː(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
records are documents, photographs, computer files etc that relate to a particular business or activity, and that are kept so that they can be looked at later. The activity of looking after records and maintaining them is record keeping
Noun
  • keep/maintain a record
  • official records
  • financial/health/medical records
  • let me check the records
  • he kept a record of every goal scored by Messi
  • the official city records were destroyed during a fire
  • your medical records cannot be shown to anyone except another doctor
  • the system does more than just record keeping and reporting
  • electronic record keeping presents many new challenges

record

rɪˈkɔː(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
to record something means to get information and keep it using a system so that the information will always be available in the future
Verb
  • the number of crimes recorded has fallen
  • the author kept a diary recording his 1,000 days in prison
  • record your results as accurately as possible
  • it was officially recorded that he had committed suicide
  • Noun: record
  • keep/maintain a record
  • official records
  • financial/health/medical records
  • let me check the records
  • he kept a record of every goal scored by Messi
  • the official city records were destroyed during a fire
  • your medical records cannot be shown to anyone except another doctor

recover

rɪˈkʌvə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
to recover something means to get it back after it was taken away, thrown away, or almost destroyed
Verb
  • he would recover things from bins
  • police have recovered the stolen jewellery
  • families trying to recover their possessions from the debris of their homes
  • his aircraft was later recovered and repaired
  • the money taken during the robbery has never been recovered

recuperation

rɪˌkuːpəˈreɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
recuperation is the process of becoming well again after being ill or after having an operation
Noun uncount
  • a period of recuperation
  • rest and recuperation
  • a holiday resort for recuperation after your operation
  • I need a period of recuperation
  • I hope you’ll find time for a little rest and recuperation
  • Verb: recuperate
  • recuperate from something
  • she’s still recuperating from her illness
  • recuperating from heart surgery

redundant

rɪˈdʌndənt
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if you are made redundant, your employer tells you that you can longer do your job
Adjective
  • be made redundant
  • 10 of us were made redundant last week
  • Noun: redundancy
  • be faced with/face redundancy
  • compulsory/voluntary redundancy
  • 400 workers face redundancy
  • I took voluntary redundancy

reflect

rɪˈflekt
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
if you reflect on something, you think about it a lot
Verb
  • reflect on something
  • as I reflected on my actions, I had to accept that they were wrong
  • Paul reflected on an enjoyable and successful year
  • as she goes about her day, she reflects on her life's choices
  • Noun: reflection
  • Adjective: reflective
  • Adverb: reflectively
  • upon reflection, I think that there are several reasons
  • that simple fact is worth some reflection
  • he waited, sensing she was in a reflective mood
  • the mayor paused and glanced at me reflectively
  • Peter was staring out of the window reflectively

reflect

rɪˈflekt
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
to reflect the nature or truth of a situation means to show it, by being similar or by being a consequence of it
Verb
  • be reflected in something
  • the proposed businesses reflect the different needs of the Afghan economy
  • its success is reflected in increasing sales
  • she said the article accurately reflected the reality
  • the increase in spending on services partly reflected higher heating bills
  • the lack of growth reflects a static outlook on the economy
  • Noun: reflection
  • a reflection of something
  • the arts are a reflection of our society
  • the economy is a reflection of our relationships

refreshments

rɪˈfreʃmənts
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
refreshments are small amounts of food and drink that are provided at some events, meetings etc
Noun plural
  • light refreshments
  • guests were supplied with light refreshments during the dance
  • we also provide refreshments such as tea, coffee and soft drinks
  • admission is £1 and refreshments are available
  • a refreshment break (a pause during an activity, meeting etc. so that people can have a drink or something to eat)

refund

ˈriːfʌnd
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
if you get a refund, a shop gives you back the money you paid for something because it is broken or does not work properly. You can also get a refund if you have paid too much for a service or if the service was not acceptable
Noun
  • claim/request/demand a refund
  • receive/obtain a refund
  • he took the watch back and they gave him a refund
  • I got a tax refund
  • passengers can claim a refund if they are delayed more than two hours
  • we received a refund after we complained to the manager
  • return order within seven days for replacement or refund if unsatisfactory
  • Verb: refund
  • refund monies/money
  • the amount you paid will be fully refunded
  • we will refund all monies you have paid us
  • we will only refund tickets if the performance has been cancelled

regain

rɪˈɡeɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
if you regain something good or useful that you have lost, you get it back again
Verb
  • regain control
  • regain your health
  • regain consciousness
  • the important thing is to rest and regain your health
  • he collapsed and never regained consciousness (he died)
  • Radcliffe regained the lead 500 metres from the finish and held on to win
  • troops regained control of the city after a night of heavy fighting

regulatory

ˈreɡjʊlət(ə)ri
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
a regulatory organisation controls an activity using rules
Adjective
  • a regulatory body/authority/agency
  • regulatory approval
  • a regulatory system
  • the regulatory environment is not very rigorous
  • the regulatory authority
  • a government regulatory agency
  • the regulatory controls to which unions are required to conform
  • Verb: regulate
  • the government body that regulates the banking industry
  • the use of these drugs is strictly regulated

reject

rɪˈdʒekt
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
if you reject something, you say that you will no longer do it or use it or believe in it
Verb
  • categorically/flatly reject something
  • reject something outright
  • he rejected violence in favour of farming
  • this idea was rejected many years ago
  • we reject and condemn such behaviour
  • the minister categorically rejected the findings of the report
  • he rejects outright the concept of global warming
  • Noun: rejection
  • the rejection of his ideas was disappointing
  • an outright rejection of the proposal

relations

rɪˈleɪʃ(ə)nz
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
relations between people or groups or groups of people are how well or badly they are able to live or work together
Noun
  • better police training has led to improved relations with the community
  • relations between the two religious groups were good
  • relations are once again strained between Ken and Deirdre (they are not happy together)
  • the new trade agreement strengthened relations between the two countries

release

rɪˈliːs
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
when something is released, it is able to move out of a container where it has been stored and can move freely in the atmosphere
Verb
  • lead particles are released into the atmosphere
  • the explosion released a cloud of smoke into the air
  • the sun releases its energy in various forms
  • a pipe in the heating system broke loose, releasing gas into the building
  • Noun: release
  • large releases of radioactivity from nuclear reactors are extremely rare

release

rɪˈliːs
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
if a prisoner is released from prison, he or she is allowed to leave because they have finished their punishment
Verb
  • he was released early for good behaviour
  • they were pardoned and released after three months in prison
  • the prisoners were released the following morning
  • his crime was so serious the judge recommended he never be released
  • Noun: release
  • demanding the release of all political prisoners
  • his early release was granted because of good behaviour

relief

rɪˈliːf
Upper Intermediate
pp110-111
if you get relief from pain, the pain becomes less or stops altogether
Noun uncount
  • relief from something
  • pain/stress relief
  • effective relief
  • effective methods of pain relief
  • the injections provided temporary relief from stress and helped her sleep
  • he felt relief spread through his body as the drugs took effect
  • Verb: relieve
  • a good way to relieve stress
  • this should help relieve the pain
  • having a neck massage is one way to relieve headaches

relief

rɪˈliːf
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
if something is a relief, it manages to stop you worrying about a bad or difficult situation. If something provides relief from pain, it stops the pain for a while
Noun
  • it must have been a relief to get your money back
  • it was such a relief to know I’d passed the exam
  • effective methods of pain relief
  • Verb: relieve
  • a good way to relieve stress
  • this should help relieve the pain
  • ways to relieve the pressure at work

reluctant

rɪˈlʌktənt
Upper Intermediate
pp48-49
if you are reluctant to do something, you do not really want to do it
Adjective
  • be reluctant to do something
  • I was a bit reluctant to talk about it
  • she seemed reluctant to take the job
  • I felt reluctant to ask for more money
  • he was initially reluctant, but finally agreed to do it
  • Adverb: reluctantly
  • Noun: reluctance
  • reluctantly agree/accept (to do something)
  • with reluctance
  • great reluctance
  • he came with us rather reluctantly
  • the driver reluctantly admitted that he'd been going too fast
  • the Board reluctantly accepted her resignation
  • I couldn’t understand his reluctance to go on the trip
  • with great reluctance he handed over the money
  • she accepted with some slight show of reluctance

reluctantly

rɪˈlʌktəntli
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
if you do something reluctantly, you do it even though you do not really want to
Adverb
  • reluctantly agree/accept
  • the woodcutter reluctantly agreed
  • he came with us, rather reluctantly
  • the driver reluctantly admitted that he'd been going too fast
  • the Board reluctantly accepted her resignation
  • Adjective: reluctant
  • Noun: reluctance
  • be reluctant to do something
  • with reluctance
  • great reluctance
  • I was a bit reluctant to talk about it
  • she seemed reluctant to take the job
  • I felt reluctant to ask for more money
  • I couldn’t understand his reluctance to go on the trip
  • with great reluctance he handed over the money
  • she accepted with some slight show of reluctance

remains

rɪˈmeɪnz
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
the remains of someone or something are all that is left of them after they have died or been destroyed
Noun plural
  • human/animal remains
  • the remains of someone/something
  • archaeologists uncovered the remains of three 12th century monks
  • traces of human remains in the cellar
  • the charred remains of the house (what was left after a fire)

remake

ˈriːˌmeɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
if a film is a remake, it has the same story and usually the same title as a film that already exists
Noun
  • a remake of “The Italian Job”
  • a television remake was produced in 2006
  • a 1983 remake starring Al Pacino
  • the remake was a total flop (nobody came to see it and it failed to make any money)
  • Verb: remake
  • the show has been remade several times

remarkable

rɪˈmɑː(r)kəb(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
if someone or something is remarkable, they are unusual and impressive in a way that is easily noticed
Adjective
  • truly/quite remarkable
  • a remarkable achievement
  • the remarkable CEO of Mfarm
  • becoming head of department at the age of 27 was a remarkable achievement
  • the heart is a remarkable organ
  • the way he paints is quite remarkable
  • a truly remarkable skill
  • Adverb: remarkably
  • Antonym – Adjective unremarkable
  • the service was remarkably reliable
  • he gave a number of unremarkable speeches during the election campaign

remarkable

rəˈmɑː(r)kəb(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
someone or something that is remarkable is unusual and impressive
Adjective
  • truly/quite remarkable
  • we met some truly remarkable people
  • he’s quite remarkable for an 18-year-old
  • a remarkable journey
  • she made a remarkable recovery
  • it’s a remarkable achievement
  • Adverb: remarkably
  • remarkably similar
  • he did remarkably well in his exams
  • she still seems remarkably fit and healthy
  • their conclusions were remarkably similar

remove

rɪˈmuːv
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
when surgeons remove a part of someone’s body, they do an operation to take it out because it has become damaged or diseased and will cause someone to be seriously ill or die if it stays in their body
Verb
  • a six-hour operation to remove the tumour
  • an appendectomy is an operation to remove someone’s appendix
  • a surgical procedure to remove the lump
  • Noun: removal
  • removal of the cancerous growth and the surrounding tissue
  • removal of the tumour was a difficult procedure

renew

rɪˈnjuː
Upper Intermediate
pp88-89
if you renew an official document such as a driving licence or passport, you extend the time during which it can be used
Verb
  • renew a passport/licence/contract
  • you need to renew your driving licence before the end of the month
  • luckily my contract was renewed for another three years
  • it costs £100 and takes three weeks to renew a passport now
  • Noun: renewal Adjective: renewable
  • a renewal date
  • a renewal fee
  • a renewal notice
  • a renewal application
  • renewable for 2/4/ etc years
  • be up for renewal
  • an annual renewal fee of £75
  • please check that the address on your renewal notice is correct
  • send your form in at least five days before the renewal date
  • the lease is for two years, renewable for a further two
  • the end of the first year of her renewable contract
  • my contract is up for renewal in June (will need to be renewed then)

rental

ˈrent(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
rental is the arrangement you have when you rent something from someone
Noun uncount
  • car rental
  • equipment rental
  • monthly rental
  • make sure you keep up to date with your rental payments
  • a short-term rental contract
  • we both had to sign the vehicle rental agreement
  • the biggest equipment rental company in the UK
  • a monthly rental charge of £15 for the phone line
  • Verb: rent
  • Noun: rent
  • annual/monthly/weekly rent
  • owe rent
  • we rented a cottage overlooking the sea
  • you owe two months’ rent
  • the monthly rent went up by £40

reoffending

rɪəˈfendɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
reoffending is the act of committing another crime after having been caught and punished once already
Noun uncount
  • the judge said he had an extremely high risk of reoffending
  • we need to tackle the high rate of reoffending
  • reoffending rates must be cut
  • the lowest reoffending rate in Europe
  • Verb: reoffend
  • there’s a very high chance that he’ll reoffend
  • people who persistently reoffend while on bail

replacement

rɪˈpleɪsmənt
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
a replacement is something that takes the place of another thing that you no longer have or can use
Noun
  • a replacement for something
  • they gave him a replacement for his watch
  • a hip replacement (an artificial hip used to replace someone’s real hip)
  • the current replacement cost is £350
  • some of the furniture requires replacement
  • several of the sales team are leaving, so we’ll have to find replacements for them
  • if a suitable replacement is not available, a full refund will be issued
  • a replacement TV
  • Verb: replace
  • we need to replace the batteries
  • the V8 engine was replaced by a new unit
  • a brick wall replaced the old wooden fence

repossess

ˌriːpəˈzes
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
if your house is repossessed, a bank takes it back from you because you have not been paying back the money you borrowed to buy it
Verb
  • last year, over 3,000 homes were repossessed
  • the bank threatened to repossess the flat
  • the bank will sell the house as soon as possible after repossessing it
  • Noun: repossession
  • your home is at risk of repossession if you fail to maintain the payments
  • the number of repossessions doubled last year

reservation

ˌrezə(r)ˈveɪʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
if you make a reservation, you ask a hotel to keep a room for you, a restaurant to keep a table for you, etc.
Noun
  • make a reservation
  • cancel a reservation
  • confirm a reservation
  • we have no record of any reservation
  • I’d like to make a reservation
  • do you have a reservation for us?
  • a reservation in the name of Smith
  • I cancelled the reservation
  • when your deposit is paid your reservation is confirmed
  • Verb: reserve
  • Adjective: reserved
  • I’d like to reserve a table for tomorrow evening
  • you can reserve tickets in advance
  • I’m sorry, this seat is reserved

reserves

rɪˈzɜː(r)v
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
a reserve is an amount of something that is kept so that it can be made available when it is needed
Noun
  • currency/cash reserves
  • be kept in reserve
  • build up a reserve
  • fuel reserves
  • oil/gas/coal reserves
  • we have reserves of foreign currency on the premises at all times
  • we had no more cash left in reserve
  • Abu Dhabi has major oil reserves
  • US gold reserves fell alarmingly

residential

ˌrezɪˈdenʃ(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
a residential area is one where most of the buildings are houses and flats where people live, rather than shops or offices
Adjective
  • a residential area/neighbourhood/suburb
  • new residential areas are still being developed
  • the campus is largely surrounded by residential neighbourhoods
  • the suburb is primarily residential, with some light industry to the south
  • a mix of commercial, residential and industrial areas
  • Noun: resident
  • Noun: residence
  • local residents were told to stay inside
  • the city centre has few residents left
  • the fire destroyed several residences nearby
  • his residence stood in the centre of the little town

resign

rɪˈzaɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
if you resign, you say officially that you are leaving your job
Verb
  • resign from something
  • resign as something
  • resign something
  • I’m going to try and presuade her not to resign
  • he’s resigning from his job
  • he may be forced to resign as prime minister
  • he resigned his post as ambassador to the United Nations
  • she threatened to resign
  • Noun: resignation
  • hand in/submit/tender your resignation
  • demand/accept someone’s resignation
  • call for someone’s resignation
  • I’ve handed in my resignation
  • he’s announced his resignation from the government
  • protestors have called for her resignation
  • reluctantly she accepted his resignation

resist

rɪˈzɪst
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
if you resist something you like, you stop yourself from doing it or having it even though you want to. If you resist something you don't want, you try to stop it from happening
Verb
  • resist (doing) something
  • resist (the) temptation (to do something)
  • he resisted arrest by the police
  • will he resist the temptation to interfere?
  • I can never resist chocolate
  • I couldn’t resist having a look inside
  • it’s difficult to resist an offer like that
  • the bank has resisted increasing its charges
  • some people try to resist change
  • he resisted pressure from his parents to marry
  • Adjective: resistant
  • Noun: resistance
  • be resistant to something
  • resistance to something
  • the employees had been very resistant to change
  • they remain resistant to his efforts to get them to resign
  • there was local resistance to the plans
  • seeing that resistance was useless, Kidd surrendered
  • she is in no mood to offer resistance

resistance

rɪˈzɪst(ə)ns
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
resistance to something is a refusal to accept it willingly
Noun uncount
  • resistance to something
  • resistance to a new culture
  • there’s considerable resistance to the proposals
  • the plans met with a lot of resistance from local people
  • they put up quite a bit of resistance
  • strong resistance to change still remains
  • Adjective: resistant
  • Verb: resist
  • be resistant to something
  • the employees had been very resistant to change
  • Alan remained resistant to the idea
  • he spent his life resisting change
  • she resisted the pressure to resign

resolve

rɪˈzɒlv
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
if you resolve a problem, you find a solution to it
Verb
  • resolve a problem/issue
  • be resolved satisfactorily/peacefully
  • it will be difficult to resolve the situation
  • in the end, everything was resolved
  • the matter hasn’t been fully resolved
  • they want to resolve things quickly
  • let’s hope things can be resolved peacefully
  • the issue was resolved within three hours
  • Noun: resolution
  • everyone is hoping for a quick resolution of the conflict
  • we believe we have achieved a satisfactory resolution to the problem

resort to

rɪˈzɔː(r)t ˌtʊ
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
to resort to an extreme course of action means to do it only because other courses of action have not been successful
Phrasal verb
  • resort to doing something
  • resort to violence
  • the government had to resort to raising the price of petrol to preserve supplies
  • extremists on both sides will resort to violence
  • you can train children for life without resorting to punishment
  • she finally had to resort to legal action
  • Noun: resort
  • a last resort
  • we’d only do this as a last resort (if everything else has failed)

respects

rɪˈspekts
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
respect is a feeling or attitude towards someone that recognises their good qualities and is polite and admiring. If you send your respects to someone, you send them a polite greeting. If you pay your last respects to someone, you show your respect or admiration for them by going to their funeral and seeing their coffin
Noun plural
  • hundreds of former pupils paid their respects at her funeral last week
  • family and friends have paid their last respects to Jim, who died two weeks ago
  • undertakers were worried that no one would be there to pay their last respects

responsibility

rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪlɪti
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if you have responsibility for something or someone, it is your job to do what is necessary to deal with them and make sure that everything happens properly
Noun uncount
  • take/assume/accept responsibility (for someone/something)
  • delegate/assign responsibility
  • She accepted responsibility for the sales department
  • we delegated the responsibility to Walters
  • Adjective: responsible
  • directly/ultimately responsible
  • mainly/principally responsible
  • who is the officer responsible for safety?
  • the school principal is ultimately responsible for standards

restless

ˈres(t)ləs
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
someone who is restless does not like staying in the same place for long and is always looking for new things to do and new places to go to
Adjective
  • a restless spirit
  • grow/become restless
  • he was a restless spirit, and never spent more than two weeks at home
  • after dinner, he grew restless and went for a walk
  • the doctor became increasingly restless
  • Noun: restlessness
  • Adverb: restlessly
  • move/pace restlessly
  • I could see signs of restlessness in his behaviour
  • Alan was pacing restlessly about the room
  • moving restlessly from one city to another

restore

rɪˈstɔː(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
to restore something that has been badly damaged means to mend it so that it returns to its original condition
Verb
  • the painting couldn’t be restored
  • the cottage was completely restored in 2007
  • the aims of the society are to preserve and restore the canal
  • the building was restored and reopened in 1979
  • Noun: restoration
  • the painting underwent significant restoration
  • when restoration was complete, the castle reopened to visitors

restriction

rɪˈstrɪkʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
a restriction is an official limit or control on what you are allowed to do
Noun
  • a severe/tough restriction
  • financial restriction
  • travel restriction
  • impose a restriction
  • lift a restriction
  • severe financial restrictions have prevented further house building
  • the government lifted all trade and travel restrictions (stopped the restrictions and allowed trade and travel to happen again)
  • some employers imposed restrictions on the activities of trade unions
  • Verb: restrict
  • Adjective: restricted
  • a government plan to restrict public spending
  • the constitution restricted the ownership of private property
  • our finances are severely restricted
  • daily visitor numbers are strictly restricted

retain

rɪˈteɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
if you retain something or someone, you are able to stop them leaving and can carry on using them or getting benefit from them
Verb
  • it costs less to retain customers than to find new ones
  • the company is trying to retain staff by offering large bonuses
  • she insisted on retaining control of the company
  • every company needs to attract and retain their salespeople
  • Noun: retention
  • staff retention is a major problem at the factory
  • a strong brand builds loyalty and customer retention

reveal

rɪˈviːl
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
if something reveals a fact or something that was not known before, it makes it known
Verb
  • the problem revealed a dark side to the new world
  • the investigation revealed the causes of the accident
  • the research revealed several significant trends
  • the truth was finally revealed in the last chapter
  • Adjective: revealing
  • Noun: revelation
  • the expression on her face was particularly revealing
  • the letter included some revealing details
  • recent revelations about the minister forced his resignaton
  • various revelations emerged during the trial

reveal

rɪˈviːl
Upper Intermediate
pp110-111
to reveal something means to make it known, especially when it was something that was previously unknown or secret
Verb
  • a report/survey reveals something
  • the report revealed a total of 256 cases of burglary over the last year
  • the man’s identity has not yet been revealed
  • the minister revealed plans to limit immigration
  • this newspaper can exclusively reveal the date of the next election
  • he had to resign after it was revealed that he had taken drugs at university
  • Noun: revelation
  • the revelation came as a surprise to his friends, and even to his family
  • revelations about her private life
  • today's revelation that the Government listened in on thousands of phone conversations
  • the more surprising revelation was that this had been going on for years

revenge

rɪˈvendʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
revenge is the action of doing something harmful or bad to someone because you think they did something bad or harmful to you
Noun uncount
  • seek revenge
  • take/get revenge
  • relatives of the victim were seeking revenge
  • she got her revenge by accusing him of theft
  • 12 people died in a revenge attack
  • police suspect a revenge killing
  • Verb: revenge
  • revenge yourself (by doing something)
  • he revenged himself by stealing the car keys
  • he was determined to revenge his father’s murder

reverse

rɪˈvɜː(r)s
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
to reverse something means to change it to the opposite
Verb
  • these measures could reverse the downward spiral
  • an attempt to reverse the decline in tourism
  • the High Court reversed the decision
  • the downward trend has not yet been reversed
  • Noun: reversal
  • the economy underwent a dramatic reversal from 2008
  • he said this represented a reversal of the government's policy

revolutionary

ˌrevəˈluːʃ(ə)n(ə)ri
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
something that is revolutionary is new in a way that is very different from what came before it
Adjective
  • a revolutionary new product
  • her poetry was revolutionary when it was first published
  • a revolutionary approach to language learning
  • a revolutionary change in their way of living and thinking
  • Verb: revolutionise
  • the advent of the internet has revolutionised our lives
  • electronic cigarettes have revolutionised the tobacco industry

reward

rɪˈwɔː(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
a reward is something valuable that you get because you have done something well or done something helpful for someone
Noun
  • if you do it right, the rewards are much greater than the risks
  • rewards such as extra holiday were offered to the most productive team
  • the approach used is simple reward-based learning
  • seeing the patient recover was reward enough
  • Verb: reward
  • Adjective: rewarding
  • be handsomely/generously rewarded
  • richly/immensely/hugely rewarding
  • they were handsomely rewarded for their hard work
  • our patience was rewarded when the results were announced
  • teaching is an immensely rewarding job
  • the whole experience was very rewarding

rewarding

rɪˈwɔːdɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
an activity that is rewarding is good because you get pleasure or some benefit from it
Adjective
  • hugely/richly rewarding
  • a rewarding hobby/pastime
  • a rewarding experience
  • the journey was a hugely rewarding experience
  • Verb: reward Noun: reward
  • enjoy/obtain/get a reward (for/from something)
  • he reaped the rewards for all his hard work
  • she was rewarded with promotion to sergeant

rib

rɪb
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
your ribs are the 12 pairs of bones in the middle of your body that form a cage around your heart and chest
Noun
  • broken/fractured/sore/bruised ribs
  • he left the field with a rib injury
  • he suffered injuries to his rib cage
  • a warning pain in his ribs made him stay still
  • he was so thin you could see all his ribs
  • my friend was badly injured with bruised ribs, black eyes and a fat lip

rigorous

ˈrɪɡərəs
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
if something is rigorous, it is careful and thorough
Adjective
  • rigorous standards
  • rigorous training
  • a rigorous analysis/approach
  • the regulatory environment is not very rigorous
  • rigorous safety checks
  • all products have to meet our rigorous quality standards
  • a rigorous analysis of potential needs
  • Noun: rigour
  • Adverb: rigorously
  • rigorously enforce/apply/control
  • intellectual/academic/scientific rigour
  • it’s all rigorously checked
  • spending is rigorously controlled
  • these rules must be rigorously applied
  • the academic rigour of the historian's method
  • greater economic rigour will be needed over the coming years

riot

ˈraɪət
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
a riot is a violent protest in the streets by a large number of people
Noun
  • cause/spark a riot
  • suppress/put down a riot
  • a riot in the capital
  • high prices led to food riots in the cities
  • rising unemployment has sparked riots
  • the army were called in to put down the riot
  • riots broke out after the announcement
  • Noun: rioter
  • police used tear gas on the rioters
  • around 450 of the rioters were arrested

rip

rɪp
Upper Intermediate
pp26-27
a rip is a long cut or hole in some cloth or paper
Noun
  • he tried to mend the rip in his trousers
  • there’s a rip in the sheet
  • there were no rips or tears in the leather
  • Verb: rip
  • Adjective: ripped
  • I’ve ripped my jacket
  • she ripped the letter open
  • look – it’s ripped
  • wearing ripped jeans
  • his clothes were ripped to shreds (badly ripped)

ripped

rɪpt
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
if paper or cloth is ripped, it has a long tear or hole in it
Adjective
  • the curtains are ripped
  • wearing ripped jeans
  • his clothes were ripped to shreds (badly ripped)
  • Verb: rip
  • Noun: rip
  • I’ve ripped my jeans
  • she ripped the letter open
  • he tried to mend the rip in his trousers
  • there’s a rip in the sheet
  • there were no rips or tears in the leather

rise

raɪz
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
a rise is an increase in the amount of money that you earn from your job
Noun
  • a pay/salary rise
  • I got a pay rise last month
  • they offered me a rise of £10 a week
  • unions are demanding a 7% rise
  • Verb: rise
  • wages rise/salaries rise/pay rises
  • wages have risen 10%
  • my pay hasn’t risen for three years

rite

raɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
rites are traditional ceremonies or activities that happen at significant moments in the year or significant moments in someone’s life
Noun
  • last rites
  • initiation rites
  • burial/funeral rites
  • Hindu rites that are carried out at birth
  • he was given the last rites (special prayers said by a priest when someone is about to die)
  • the place where Gandhi’s funeral rites were performed
  • these rites mark the cycle of life – birth, marriage, death
  • a rite of passage (a ceremony to mark the time when someone reaches a particular stage in their life, for example becoming an adult)
  • Adjective: ritual
  • the ritual wedding feast

rival

ˈraɪv(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
a rival is a person or organisation who is competing with you to achieve the same things
Noun
  • someone’s main/nearest/chief/closest/fiercest rival
  • a bitter/deadly rival
  • his closest rival was injured two weeks before the race
  • they’d been bitter rivals for 20 years, but now they've found friendship
  • Radcliffe finished nearly two minutes ahead of her nearest rival
  • Noun: rivalry
  • fierce/bitter rivalry
  • sibling rivalry
  • rivalry between people
  • the rivalry between the two cities occasionally erupted into violence
  • a bitter rivalry that lasted 20 years
  • sibling rivalry (rivalry between brothers or sisters)

role

rəʊl
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
a role is a particular character in a play or film that is played by an actor
Noun
  • play a role
  • a lead/leading role
  • a minor role
  • a starring role
  • he played the leading role in Woody Allen’s latest film
  • she played the role of Harry Potter’s mother
  • the lead role (the most important character)
  • a minor role (a not very important character)
  • Sean Connery had the starring role in the first James Bond films (the role for the biggest star in the film)

root

ruːt
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
the roots of a plant are the parts under the ground that send food up to the plant above the ground. The roots of a person or a tradition are the place, culture, and family that they come from
Noun
  • go back/return to your roots
  • an art form that has deep roots in Spanish history
  • some people cut themselves off from their roots
  • she felt the need to go back to her roots
  • he wanted to return to his Irish roots
  • I brought my mother here to rediscover her childhood roots
  • Adjective: rooted
  • these ceremonies are rooted in centuries-old tradition

root

ruːt
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
the roots of a plant are the parts under the ground that send food up to the plant above the ground. A person’s roots are the place, culture, and family that they come from
Noun
  • go back/return to your roots
  • some people cut themselves off from their roots
  • an art form that has deep roots in Spanish history
  • she felt the need to go back to her roots
  • he wanted to return to his Irish roots
  • I brought my mother here to rediscover her childhood roots
  • Adjective: rooted
  • these ceremonies are rooted in centuries-old tradition

root

ruːt
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
the roots of a plant are the parts under the ground that send food up to the plant above the ground
Noun
  • all that water has rotted the roots
  • the vine has put down strong roots
  • a tree with an extensive root system
  • the roots grew sideways and damaged the wall

root

ruːt
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
the root of a problem is its main or original cause
Noun
  • the root cause(s) (of something)
  • the root causes are interconnected
  • bad diet lies at the root of a lot of health problems
  • the war had religion at its root

rot

rɒt
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
if something rots, it decays through natural processes
Verb
  • if you give the plant too much water, the roots will rot
  • too much water will rot the roots
  • the fruit was rotting in the bowl
  • the old wood had rotted
  • eating too much sugar will rot your teeth
  • Noun: rot
  • Adjective: rotting
  • Adjective: rotten
  • the house was full of damp and rot
  • extensive rot in the window frame
  • covering up the trunk with extra soil can cause rot
  • the smell of rotting food
  • the bin was full of rotting fish
  • a strong smell of rotten eggs
  • he had a mouthful of rotten teeth

rough

rʌf
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
a rough area, school, or other place is one where there is a lot of crime and violence
Adjective
  • tourists should keep away from such rough areas
  • it was the roughest school in the town
  • Watson grew up in a rough neighbourhood of Kansas City
  • his day to day struggles in the rough streets of Mumbai

routine

ruːˈtiːn
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
a routine is a set pattern of actions that happen regularly and often in the same order
Noun
  • a daily routine
  • things gradually settled into a routine
  • the walk home from the station was his favourite time in the daily routine
  • the next day I began what became my usual routine
  • a good bedtime routine can help you fall asleep quicker
  • Adjective: routine
  • Adverb: routinely
  • a routine inspection (one that happens regularly)
  • has it become routine to stay at your desk till 6.30 pm?
  • the database is routinely updated
  • schools are routinely inspected once every three years

row

raʊ
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if you have a row with someone, you have a very noisy or emotional argument with them
Noun
  • a blazing/furious/heated row
  • a bitter/fierce row
  • a row about something
  • he stormed out after another blazing row
  • let’s not have a row about it
  • Verb: row
  • they spent the whole weekend rowing
  • let’s not row about it

rub

rʌb
Upper Intermediate
pp26-27
if you rub a part of your body, you use your hand to press on it and move your hand backwards and forwards. If you rub something into a surface, you press it into the surface by pushing it backwards and forwards across the surface
Verb
  • rub some salt into the meat
  • she sat up and rubbed her eyes
  • he was rubbing his hair with a towel
  • my shoes were rubbing (they were pressing against my feet in a painful way)

rule

ruːl
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
if someone in authority rules something, they make an official decision and announce it. For example, if a judge rules that someone is too ill to stand trial, then that person does not have to go on trial
Verb
  • rule that
  • rule in favour of someone
  • rule against someone
  • the court ruled in her favour
  • the tribunal ruled that he had been unfairly dismissed from his job
  • her death was initially ruled an accident
  • the court ruled against him
  • Noun: ruling
  • the judge made a ruling in favour of the defendant
  • the court issued a ruling overturning the ban

run

rʌn
Upper Intermediate
pp52-53
when buses or trains run, they follow their usual route from one place to another
Verb
  • how often do the buses run?
  • a regular train service to Birmmingham runs every 20 minutes
  • we run two buses an hour in each direction
  • trains don’t run on Christmas day

run

rʌn
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
a good or bad run is a period of time when things go well or badly for you
Noun
  • a winning/good run
  • a losing/bad run
  • a run of wins/victories
  • a run of defeats/losses
  • his team had been on a terrible run
  • Hamilton extended his winning run to six races
  • Everton ended their four-game losing run
  • a run of bad luck

run up

ˈrʌn ʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
if you run up a debt or a bill, you spend money or order goods with the result that you owe a lot of money
Phrasal verb
  • run up a debt
  • run up a bill
  • he ran up huge debts trying to keep his company going
  • she ran up a massive mobile phone bill
  • I ran up a sizeable debt at university
  • a New York resident who ran up a credit card bill of $20,000

run-down

rʌn ˈdaʊn
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
a building that is run-down is not in good condition because it is old and hasn’t been looked after well. You can also say that an area of a town or city is run-down
Adjective
  • some run-down buildings
  • the school is rather run-down
  • a run-down inner city area
  • some parts of the city are very run-down
  • huge areas of run-down, poor quality housing

run-up

ˈrʌnʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp142-143
the run-up to an event is the period of time leading up to it
Noun singular
  • the run-up to something
  • things got very busy in the run-up to Christmas
  • he worked for his MP during the run-up to the election
  • it’s important to eat properly in the run-up to the exams

rush

rʌʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
if you rush somewhere or rush to do something, you try and go there as soon as you can or you try and do it as quickly as possible
Verb
  • rush to do something
  • no need to rush, the train’s not due for another ten minutes
  • he rushed to the hospital as soon as he heard the news
  • people rushed to lift the car off him
  • he rushed in ten minutes late for the lesson
  • we all rushed out when the fire alarm went off
  • Noun: rush
  • (be) in a rush
  • a great rush
  • a mad/frantic rush
  • a sudden rush
  • a rush to do something
  • we were in a rush to get to the station
  • a sudden rush for the exit (people suddenly trying to get out of a building quickly)
  • I can’t stop to talk, I’m in an awful rush!
  • a mad rush to buy the latest iPhone

sack

sæk
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
if someone sacks you or if you get sacked, you are officially told by your employer that you no longer have a job, usually because you did something wrong or because you did not work well enough
Verb
  • sack someone from something
  • sack someone for (doing) something
  • she sacked her coach after a string of defeats
  • he was sacked for stealing from the kitchens
  • the company sacked him for passing secrets to a rival
  • Williams, 47, was sacked from his post as finance director
  • Noun: sack
  • Noun: sacking
  • give someone the sack
  • get the sack
  • getting the sack was the start of his troubles
  • she threatened to give me the sack if I didn’t finish the project in time
  • there’ve been several sackings since Christmas in an attempt to save the company money
  • More than 30 managers lost their jobs this morning, and further sackings are sure to follow
  • a sacking offence (an action that is so seriously wrong that it can result in someone getting the sack)

sack

sæk
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
if someone sacks you or if you get sacked, you are officially told by your employer that you no longer have a job, usually because you did something wrong or because you did not work well enough
Verb
  • sack someone from something
  • sack someone for (doing) something
  • he was sacked for stealing from the kitchens
  • the company sacked him for passing secrets to a rival
  • Williams, 47, was sacked from his post as finance director
  • Noun: sack
  • Noun: sacking
  • give someone the sack
  • get the sack
  • getting the sack was the start of his troubles
  • she threatened to give me the sack if I didn’t finish the project in time
  • there’ve been several sackings since Christmas in an attempt to save the company money
  • More than 30 managers lost their jobs this morning, and further sackings are sure to follow
  • a sacking offence (an action that is so seriously wrong that it can result in someone getting the sack)

safe

seɪf
Upper Intermediate
pp88-89
if you do something to be on the safe side, you do not take any risks because you want to be sure you will not fail or have any problems
Adjective
  • take a torch to be on the safe side
  • take your credit card as well to be on the safe side
  • we’d better leave by ten to be on the safe side

sake

seɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
for the sake of something means for that purpose. For the sake of a person means for that person’s benefit
Noun singular
  • don’t continue arguing just for the sake of not losing face
  • do it for the sake of your health
  • laws that are necessary for the sake of the whole community
  • I only did it for your sake
  • do it for your own sake
  • let’s not argue, for the children’s sake
  • for my dear mother's sake, I will be a friend to you

sarcastic

sɑː(r)ˈkæstɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
if someone is sarcastic, they say something that is the opposite of what they mean in order to mock someone or to be funny
Adjective
  • I think he’s being sarcastic
  • he said something sarcastic
  • he made a sarcastic comment
  • she ignored his sarcastic response
  • Noun: sarcasm
  • Adverb: sarcastically
  • there was a touch of sarcasm in his voice
  • “how generous,” he said, with heavy sarcasm
  • “Brilliant,” she said sarcastically
  • he sarcastically asked if I felt all right

scam

skæm
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
a scam is a dishonest and illegal way of getting money from people by cheating them
Noun
  • an insurance/investment scam
  • be careful to avoid scams
  • a money-making scam
  • a credit-card scam
  • luckily, we realised it was a scam before we handed over any money
  • a major insurance scam
  • Verb: scam
  • a gang scamming households across the city
  • anyone who’s been scammed dreams of getting revenge

scandal

ˈskænd(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
a scandal is a situation in which shocking information about someone or something becomes public
Noun
  • it caused a huge public scandal
  • a scandal engulfed the royal family
  • the scandal involved two major banks
  • in the last days of 1990 a new scandal broke (became known about)
  • stories of corruption, scandal and government incompetence
  • Adjective: scandalous
  • Adverb: scandalously
  • he denied all the rumours of scandalous behaviour
  • a scandalous affair involving forged bank notes
  • she scandalously ran away to Hamburg with a German engineer
  • this statement has been attacked as scandalously inaccurate

sceptical

ˈskeptɪk(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
someone who is sceptical about something is not sure if it is true and wants to check all the facts before they believe it
Adjective
  • be sceptical about/of something
  • highly/deeply sceptical
  • remain sceptical
  • I’m deeply sceptical about the whole plan
  • a sceptical attitude
  • despite the conclusions of the report, he remained sceptical about the idea
  • Noun: sceptic Noun: scepticism Adverb: sceptically
  • a good deal of scepticism
  • a degree of scepticism
  • widespread scepticism
  • scepticism about something
  • when it comes to climate change, he’s still a sceptic
  • she listened to the explantion sceptically
  • the sceptics were still not convinced
  • the plan was greeted with a degree of scepticism

scratched

skrætʃt
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
if something is scratched, it has a small cut or mark on its surface
Adjective
  • the screen was scratched
  • how did the table get scratched?
  • his clothes were torn and his face was scratched
  • the top of the desk was all scratched
  • avoid using old, scratched plastic bottles
  • Verb: scratch
  • Noun: scratch
  • mind you don’t scratch the car
  • the back of the door handle had scratched the paint
  • there was a scratch on the windscreen
  • there were tiny little scratches on the glass

seated

ˈsiːtɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
if someone is seated, they are sitting down. If they are seated on something, they are sitting on it
Adjective
  • a young man with a white cat seated on his lap
  • she remained seated on the floor
  • she was seated on the grass
  • please remain seated until the plane has stopped
  • Verb: seat
  • I sat down and he seated himself beside me

secure

sɪˈkjʊə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
if you secure something, you make sure you get it or achieve it, often after a lot of effort
Verb
  • farmers worked hard to secure a good harvest
  • we are working hard to secure more tickets for everyone
  • 90% of our students secured permanent jobs within three months of graduating
  • we secured several government contracts last year

seed

siːd
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
a seed is a small part of a plant that grows into a new plant when it is in the soil. If you talk about a seed or the seeds of something, you are talking about the start of a new process or development
Noun
  • sow/scatter seeds
  • I bought some seeds to grow some herbs in my kitchen
  • soak the seeds in warm water overnight before planting them
  • planting carrots is done by sowing seed
  • it’s just the seed of an idea at the moment
  • his writing scattered the seeds of revolutionary ideas across Europe
  • they are sowing the seeds of unrest

seize

siːz
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
to seize an opportunity means to take the opportunity as soon as it becomes possible and before it goes away again
Verb
  • he advised me to seize every opportunity to learn
  • while Dent was away she seized the opportunity to reorganise the department
  • he seized the chance for escape

seize

siːz
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
if the police or other authorities seize something, they take it by force and do not return it because it is illegal or stolen
Verb
  • police seized $20 million worth of cocaine
  • computers and documents were seized by the tax authorities
  • the packages were seized as evidence during the arrests
  • most of his assets were seized to pay his debts (his money and property was legally taken from him because he owed money)

self-conscious

self ˈkɒnʃəs
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
if you are self-conscious, you feel embarrassed about what you look like and think that everyone is looking at you and making a judgement about you
Adjective
  • I’m always self-conscious when I dance
  • I felt a bit self-conscious
  • it makes me self-conscious when everyone looks at me
  • he’s starting to get self-conscious about his weight
  • she was too self-conscious and didn't dare try speaking German
  • Adverb: self-consciously
  • Noun: self-consciousness
  • she smiled rather self-consciously
  • I self-consciously handed the letter to Caroline
  • the change from self-confidence to self-consciousness
  • self-consciousness is the measurement of how easily someone is embarrassed

sentence

ˈsentəns
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
someone’s sentence is the punishment that a judge decides they must have after they have been found guilty of a crime
Noun
  • serve a sentence
  • a prison/jail sentence
  • a life sentence
  • the death sentence
  • pass sentence
  • hand down a sentence
  • he only served half his sentence
  • they both received long prison sentences
  • the judge handed down a life sentence
  • the judge waited a week before passing sentence
  • drug smugglers risk the death sentence
  • Verb: sentence
  • Noun: sentencing
  • sentence someone to something
  • a military court sentenced him to death
  • he was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison
  • the trial was adjourned until 13 October for sentencing (the statement by the judge saying what the sentence will be)

sentence

ˈsentəns
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
if someone is sentenced to a period of time in jail, a court has found them guilty of a crime and the judge announces how long they will have to spend in jail
Verb
  • sentence someone to something
  • he could be sentenced to 10 years in jail
  • the judge sentenced him to four years in prison
  • Noun: sentence
  • Noun: sentencing
  • hand down a sentence
  • the judge pronounced sentence
  • it was the longest sentence that could be handed down
  • there is a minimum sentence of five years for this sort of crime
  • the trial was adjourned until 13 October for sentencing (the statement by the judge saying what the sentence will be)

serve

sɜː(r)v
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
to serve in a game such as tennis means to start the game by hitting the ball to your opponent
Verb
  • Murray chose to serve in the first game
  • I served a double fault
  • it’s Federer to serve next
  • she’s served brilliantly in this match
  • Noun: serve
  • a fantastic serve
  • his first serve was out
  • she’s finding it difficult to return Serena Williams’ serve

set foot

ˌset ˈfʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
if you say that you have never set foot somewhere, you are emphasizing that you never went there, even though it is likely that you would have done
Phrase
  • barely/never set foot
  • for two weeks I barely set foot outside the flat
  • I’ll never set foot in that house again!

set off

ˈset ˌɒf
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
to set off a device that will explode or make a noise means to make it explode or make a noise
Phrasal verb
  • people were setting off fireworks in the street
  • burglars set off the alarm when they broke the door down
  • the phone ringing set the dogs off barking
  • terrorists set off two bombs in the shopping centre

set off

ˈset ˌɒf
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
if you set off, you start a journey. If you set off for somewhere, you start your journey to go to that place
Phrasal verb
  • we set off for home at 5
  • it’s time to set off
  • she set off to walk the two miles back to her flat
  • they set off on a three-day holiday trip to Edinburgh

set out

ˈset ˌaʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
if you set out to do something, you start trying to do it
Phrasal verb
  • a colleague might be genuinely setting out to block your ideas
  • I’m setting out to win this competition
  • I never set out to hurt you
  • the study set out to examine television coverage of the war in Iraq
  • she’s achieved everything she set out to do

set up

ˈset ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
to set something up means to do what is necessary for it all to work properly
Phrasal verb
  • we set up the sound system outside the town hall
  • she spent the evening setting up her new computer
  • the lighting in the theatre had been very badly set up

settle

ˈset(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
if snow settles, it stays on the ground when it lands and does not turn to water straight away
Verb
  • the snow had started to settle
  • the roads were still clear but the snow had settled in the fields
  • overnight snow will settle on high ground

settle

ˈset(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
if something settles your stomach, it stops your stomach feeling uncomfortable and likely to make you sick
Verb
  • it will settle your stomach
  • after I’d had the tea, my stomach settled

settle

ˈset(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
if you settle a problem or dispute, you find an acceptable solution to it
Verb
  • settle a claim/dispute/matter
  • they hope the matter can be settled quickly
  • the case was settled out of court (they agreed a solution and the case didn’t need to go to court)
  • her insurance claim was finally settled for £800
  • find a peaceful way to settle the dispute

settle

ˈset(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
if you settle somewhere, you start to live there permanently
Verb
  • he settled in Birmingham after the war
  • they settled just north of London
  • between 1826 and 1852, many Europeans settled in the country
  • those pioneers who settled in the American West
  • Noun: settler
  • European settlers arrived, starting around 1845

settle for

ˈset(ə)l fɔː(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
if you settle for something, you accept it, even though it is not as good as you wanted it to be
Phrasal verb
  • eventually/finally settle for something
  • he eventually settled for a job as a security guard
  • they owe you the full value of the car, so don’t settle for less

shape

ʃeɪp
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
your shape is how fit and healthy you are
Noun uncount
  • be out of shape
  • be in (good) shape
  • get (back) in shape
  • he’s got really out of shape since he stopped going to the gym (become unfit)
  • I wanted to get back in shape (become fitter)
  • an exercise machine to help you keep in shape
  • he’s in much better shape now
  • it’s not far to walk, but it depends what sort of shape you’re in

share

ʃeə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
the shares in a company are the parts into which its ownership is divided and which can be bought and sold. The share price is the price you have to pay to buy a share
Noun
  • buy/sell shares
  • now is not a good time to buy shares in the company
  • she decided to sell her shares to pay off her debts
  • the company’s share price crashed
  • the share price has gone down to just 32p
  • share prices have bounced back after the recession
  • Noun: shareholder
  • shareholders objected to the chairman’s pay rise
  • the takeover can go ahead only with shareholder approval
  • the annual shareholders meeting

sheer

ʃɪə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
you use sheer to emphasise the great size, weight, or quantity of something
Adjective
  • sheer complexity/scale/size/volume/number
  • I was overwhelmed by the sheer complexity of the problem
  • the sheer volume of information available has grown enormously
  • the sheer quantity of floodwater was horrifying
  • the sheer number of visitors is posing a threat to the area

shift

ʃɪft
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
a shift is a change in the way something happens or is done, or a change in the way people think about something
Noun
  • a shift in something
  • a shift from something to something
  • a policy shift
  • a fundamental/major/significant shift
  • a shift from oil to natural gas
  • a remarkable shift in public opinion
  • the report represented a major shift in focus
  • Verb: shift
  • shift someone’s attention/attitude
  • the need to shift attitudes about global warming

shoot up

ˈʃuːt ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
if prices shoot up, they increase very quickly and by a large amount. If the rate or level of something shoots up, it increases greatly and quickly. A more formal word is soar
Phrasal verb
  • plane fares really shoot up at Easter
  • interest rates have shot up in recent months
  • inflation shot up to 6% last year
  • his blood pressure shot up dangerously
  • applications to study here have shot up since the new faculty opened

shortage

ˈʃɔː(r)tɪdʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
if there is a shortage of something, there is not enough of it
Noun
  • a shortage of something
  • there are a lot of water shortages
  • a desperate shortage of medical supplies
  • a serious shortage of teachers
  • the drought led to a shortage of food
  • many companies are facing severe staff shortages
  • Adjective: short
  • be short of something
  • I’m a bit short of cash at the moment. Can you lend me £10?
  • if you’re short of carrots, just use potato

shower

ˈʃaʊə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
if someone is showered with something, other people throw it over them. You can also say that you shower someone with gifts if you give them a lot of gifts, or shower them with praise if lots of people say positive things about them
Verb
  • the couple are showered with confetti
  • they showered her with presents
  • viewers showered praise on the film

sibling

ˈsɪblɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
someone’s sibling is their brother or sister
Noun
  • sibling rivalry
  • with her siblings, she put on puppet shows
  • sibling rivalry is a normal part of growing up
  • he had two elder siblings, Scott and Connie
  • his five siblings left the area for better opportunities

side

saɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
a particular side of a situation is a particular aspect of it that is being described
Noun
  • the funny/bright side of something/someone
  • a positive/negative side
  • a gentle/nasty side
  • there’s a dark side to his personality (he is unhappy or does bad things sometimes)
  • always look on the bright side of life (be positive and think about good things)
  • on the plus side, we’ll have a whole weekend together
  • the negative side to life in the country is the slow Internet connection
  • after a few drinks he shows his nasty side

signposting

ˈsaɪnˌpəʊst
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
a signpost is a sign by the road which shows you the direction to somewhere. Signposting is the use of signposts or other signs to help people know which way they should go, for example on the roads or in a large public building
Noun uncount
  • he criticised the lack of signposting at the junction
  • provision of clear signposting is essential
  • follow the signposting to the car park
  • signposting to the ferry in Dieppe leaves something to be desired (the signposting is not very good)
  • Noun: signpost
  • a signpost pointing to the city centre
  • look out for the signpost at the bottom of the hill
  • we went six miles without seeing a single signpost

site

saɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
a site is a place where something is or where something happens
Noun
  • a building site
  • a burial site
  • it’s on the site of a much older church
  • a building site (where building work is going on)
  • an ancient burial site
  • a landfill site (for burying rubbish in the ground)
  • the most visited archaeological site in Mexico
  • the power station occupies a 24 hectare site
  • Verb: site
  • their cities were typically sited near rivers
  • the three main passenger terminal buildings are sited next to each other

skid

skɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
if you skid while you are driving, your vehicle slides uncontrollably, for example because you have tried to stop too quickly when it is icy or muddy
Verb
  • I was afraid we’d skid on the ice
  • the police car skidded to a stop
  • the jeep skidded and slammed into the truck
  • if you feel the car skidding, lift your foor off the accelerator
  • Noun: skid
  • if you go into a skid, stop braking
  • she learned how to handle a skid

skip

skɪp
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
if you skip something that you regularly do or have, you do not do it or have it on one occasion
Verb
  • I try never to skip lunch
  • she skipped the last lesson of the day to go to the concert
  • she made up an excuse to skip gym that evening (to not go to the gym)

skull

skʌl
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
your skull is the bone that makes up your head and that contains your brain
Noun
  • a fractured skull
  • a human/animal skull
  • a strong blow to the skull can cause brain damage
  • close to death with a fractured skull
  • archaeologists unearthed the fossilised skull of a human child, at least 1,500 years old
  • these dinosaurs had very bony skulls

slap

slæp
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
if you slap someone, you hit them with your open hand
Verb
  • slap someone in/across the face
  • slap someone on the head/bottom/cheek
  • a teacher who used to slap me on the back of my head
  • slapping children in the face like that is unacceptable
  • if you weren’t so far away I’d slap you across the face
  • he slapped me on the back (hit me in a friendly way on the back)
  • Noun: slap
  • a hard/sharp slap
  • a slap on the hand/wrist/cheek
  • give someone a slap
  • I fully expected a slap on my cheek
  • she gave me a slap and told me to behave
  • be quiet or you’ll get a slap in the mouth

slave

sleɪv
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
if you slave or slave away, you work very hard for a long time
Verb
  • slave away at something
  • slave over something
  • I’ve been slaving away at my desk
  • slaving over a hot cooker
  • slaving away at a report
  • after slaving over the novel for 10 years, he finally gave up

slice

slaɪs
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
to slice something means to cut it into thin pieces using a knife or something else that is sharp
Verb
  • Van Gogh sliced his ear off
  • slice the courgettes thinly
  • he sliced his hand open by accident
  • Noun: slice
  • Adjective: sliced
  • a slice of cheese
  • a few thin slices of tomato
  • a loaf of sliced bread

small print

ˈsmɔːl prɪnt
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
in a contract or other legal document, the small print is all the complicated detail that people don’t like reading, but which often has surprising conditions
Noun singular
  • read the small print
  • be in the small print
  • if you don’t read the small print, you might get a nasty shock later
  • the penalty for late delivery was buried in the small print
  • It's the added extras hidden in the small print that often make hiring a car more expensive than it first appears
  • what you see listed on the site is what you get, nothing hidden in the small print

smash

smæʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp26-27
if something smashes, it breaks into a lot of very small pieces
Verb
  • I knocked over a cup and it smashed on the floor
  • the bottle smashed
  • I’m sorry, I’ve accidentally smashed a glass
  • they threatened to smash his windows

smoothly

ˈsmuːðli
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
if something happens smoothly, everything works well and successfully and there are no problems
Adverb
  • go/run smoothly
  • all the arrangements went very smoothly
  • the sessions were well planned and went smoothly
  • the process did not always run smoothly
  • the problem was quickly and smoothly dealt with
  • Adjective: smooth
  • she made a smooth transition from school to university
  • he stayed on for a month to ensure a smooth handover to the new chairman

smuggling

ˈsmʌɡ(ə)lɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
smuggling is the activity of taking things into or out of a country secretly because it is against the law or against rules
Noun uncount
  • he was found guilty of drug smuggling
  • cigarette smuggling is on the increase
  • organised smuggling gangs
  • their primary objective was to prevent smuggling
  • Verb: smuggle
  • Noun: smuggler
  • gangs that smuggle illegal immigrants into the country
  • it’s quite easy to smuggle guns across the border
  • drug smugglers risk the death sentence
  • these paths were used by smugglers 300 years ago

snatch

snætʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
to snatch something means to steal it from someone by using force to take it away from them
Verb
  • I had my bag snatched in the street
  • someone snatched my purse
  • she snatched the letter out of my hand before I could open it
  • the youth snatched her phone outside the station

sneak

sniːk
Upper Intermediate
pp92-93
if you sneak somewhere, you go there quietly and secretly, hoping that no one will see you
Verb
  • sneak in/out/away/off
  • I got bored and decided to sneak out
  • we sneaked in through the back door
  • let’s sneak round the back
  • we sneaked off home before the last lesson

sneeze

sniːz
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
if you sneeze, you suddenly force a lot of air out your nose or mouth without being able to prevent it, for example when you have a cold
Verb
  • he was coughing and sneezing all night
  • she sneezed twice as the cold air blew in through the open door
  • the pepper spilled and made me sneeze
  • Noun: sneeze
  • each sneeze can blast more than one million bugs into the air
  • she reached for a handkerchief as she felt another sneeze coming on

so-called

ˈsəʊ kɔːld
Upper Intermediate
pp136-137
you use so-called to refer to people or things when you think that a description of them is wrong. So if you refer to someone as a so-called expert, you mean that you think they are not an expert at all
Adjective
  • even prizes judged by so-called experts were clearly random
  • our so-called civilised society
  • he denied committing so-called crimes against the state
  • Chile's so-called economic miracle

soak

səʊk
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
if you soak something, you put it into water or another liquid and leave it there for a time, often as part of food preparation
Verb
  • soak something in something
  • soak in something
  • soak the chickpeas overnight
  • leave them to soak for a few hours
  • soak them in cold water for two hours
  • I could spend hours soaking in the bath
  • I got absolutely soaked (very wet from the rain)
  • in another pot, soak the salted fish
  • Noun: soak
  • they cook very quickly after a soak overnight
  • I spent an hour having a soak in the bath

soaked

səʊkt
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
if you get soaked, you become extremely wet
Adjective
  • soaked through
  • soaked to the skin
  • I got absolutely soaked on the way
  • after an hour in the rain I was soaked through
  • within seconds they were both soaked to the skin
  • Verb: soak
  • Adverb: soaking
  • Noun: soaking
  • soaking wet
  • the rain soaked everyone to the skin
  • my shirt was soaking wet
  • I forgot my umbrella and got a soaking

soaked

səʊkt
Upper Intermediate
pp52-53
if you get soaked, you become extremely wet
Adjective
  • soaked through
  • soaked to the skin
  • the whole place was flooded and we got absolutely soaked
  • after an hour in the rain I was soaked through
  • within seconds they were both soaked to the skin
  • Verb: soak
  • Adverb: soaking
  • Noun: soaking
  • soaking wet
  • the rain soaked everyone to the skin
  • my shirt was soaking wet
  • I forgot my umbrella and got a soaking

soar

sɔː(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
if prices soar, they increase very quickly and by a large amount. If the rate or level of something soars, it increases greatly and quickly. A less formal expression is shoot up
Verb
  • property prices in London have soared
  • prices are soaring in the area
  • unemployment has soared to 15%
  • profits have soared dramatically
  • inflation looks set to soar in the coming months
  • Adjective: soaring
  • soaring levels of student debt
  • the need to control soaring inflation
  • soaring gold prices nearly caused another financial crisis

soft

sɒft
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
you can say that someone is soft if they are not strict enough and if they allow things to happen that they do not want
Adjective
  • be soft on someone/something
  • the government is soft on drugs
  • he’s too soft with his kids
  • community service is seen as a soft option (prison would be a better punishment)

soil

sɔɪl
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
soil is the earth in which plants grow
Noun
  • fertilisers that will improve the soil
  • a good fertile soil
  • struggling to grow crops in poor soils
  • a sandy soil
  • a clay soil
  • well drained soil is also essential for these plants
  • these soil samples were analysed

solidly

ˈsɒlɪdli
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
if you work solidly throughout a period of time, you work constantly and without stoppping
Adverb
  • work solidly
  • rain solidly
  • I worked solidly all afternoon
  • it’s been raining solidly since yesterday morning
  • Adjective: solid
  • two/three/four etc solid hours/days/weeks
  • we spent three solid weeks painting the house

sort

sɔː(r)t
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
to sort things means to look through them and arrange them in smaller groups according to size, type etc
Verb
  • he sorted the junk into piles
  • sort your kitchen waste into food, glass and plastic
  • thousands of carefully sorted postcards
  • the information can be retrieved and sorted very easily
  • he began to sort and arrange his papers

sound

saʊnd
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
to sound an instrument means to make it produce its usual noise
Verb
  • drivers are constantly sounding their horns in the street
  • he sounded his trumpet to announce the president’s arrival
  • the referee sounded his whistle for the start of the match

spark

spɑː(r)k
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
to spark something violent or extreme means to cause it
Verb
  • the speech sparked a heated debate
  • what sparked this explosion of anger?
  • the announcement has sparked widespread demonstrations
  • the incident sparked controversy across the country

sparkle

ˈspɑː(r)k(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
something that sparkles gives off flashes of bright light
Verb
  • the golden walls were sparkling in the sunlight
  • the rings on her fingers sparkled
  • you should have seen his eyes sparkle when we told him
  • the diamonds and precious stones sparkled and gleamed
  • Noun: sparkle
  • he saw the sparkle of her eyes
  • wipe with a damp cloth to give your windows a sparkle

spectacular

spekˈtækjʊlə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
if something is spectacular, it is extremely impressive to look at or watch
Adjective
  • absolutely/truly spectacular
  • spectacular scenery
  • a spectacular view
  • a spectacular show
  • a spectacular firework display
  • the dancing was absolutely spectacular
  • a spectacular view of the mountains / the scenery is absolutely spectacular
  • Adverb: spectacularly
  • Salisbury is the most spectacularly beautiful cathedral in Britain
  • the theatre is spectacularly decorated

speculate

ˈspekjʊleɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
to speculate means to suggest or guess that something might be true although you do not have evidence to prove it
Verb
  • speculate that
  • speculate about something
  • researchers speculate that climate change may have been responsible
  • we don’t know for sure, but it’s fun to speculate
  • you should check your facts before speculating wildly
  • it’s useless to speculate about the origin of language
  • Noun: speculation
  • Adjective: speculative
  • this is pure speculation and not fact
  • this is not idle speculation (there is some truth in this)
  • the prime minister dismissed speculation about an early election
  • this event prompted media speculation that he was going to resign
  • at present these suggestions remain purely speculative
  • the entire article is simply speculative opinion

speechless

ˈspiːtʃləs
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
if you are speechless, you are so surprised by something that you find it difficult to say anything
Adjective
  • be speechless with anger/rage
  • when I found out, I was speechless
  • he was speechless with rage and bright red in the face
  • Jenny collapsed into the chair, speechless with exhaustion

spin

spɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
if someone or something spins around, they move round and round in circles, usually quickly
Verb
  • all that spinning around has made me dizzy
  • the helicopter blades started to spin round
  • the car spun round twice before crashing into the tree
  • my head was spinning (I couldn’t think clearly)

spine

spaɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
your spine is the row of bones that goes down your back from your neck and that helps you stay upright
Noun
  • an exercise that is good for the spine without putting unnecessary strain on the rest of the body
  • curvature of the spine (a medical condition in which someone’s spine is not straight but curves slightly)
  • the body's main nerves branch out from either side of the spine
  • Adjective: spinal
  • spinal injuries
  • the spinal cord (the nerve that runs up the middle of the spine and which carries messages to the brain)
  • your spinal column (your spine)
  • she had to undergo spinal surgery

spirit

ˈspɪrɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
the spirit of an action or statement is the way it is meant to be understood
Noun
  • complaints are made in the spirit of improving a service
  • the display was put on in the spirit of fun
  • this is certainly against the spirit of the law (even if it is legal, it is not what the law intended to allow)

spiritual

ˈspɪrɪtʃuəl
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
spiritual means relating to your feelings and beliefs and not to your body or to material things
Adjective
  • it was a deeply spiritual experience
  • a truly spiritual journey of discovery
  • the moral and spiritual growth of young people
  • Adverb: spiritually
  • an account of his spiritually rich but socially deprived childhood
  • a spiritually reviving walk through fields and woods

sponsor

ˈspɒnsə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
if you sponsor someone or something, you provide money for a particular event or activity. People often sponsor friends who are raising money for charity. People also sponsor children or families in poor areas, for example by providing money for schoolbooks or medicines. Companies often sponsor big public events, usually in exchange for being allowed to advertise at the event
Verb
  • we’re sponsoring a family in Namibia
  • will you sponsor me? I’m going to swim 5 miles for Cancer Research
  • Disney eventually sponsored three research field trips
  • Samsung has sponsored the team since 2000
  • many years ago, the cricket World Cup was sponsored by a tobacco company
  • Noun: sponsor
  • Noun: sponsorship
  • some sponsors are large national and multinational companies
  • original corporate sponsors included two local banks
  • BP is providing £1m of sponsorship
  • commercial sponsorship of women's football is growing
  • corporate sponsorship is a popular marketing tool

sponsorship

ˈspɒnsə(r)ʃɪp
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
sponsorship is money provided for a particular event or activity, usually by a company in exchange for being allowed to advertise at the event
Noun uncount
  • a sponsorship deal
  • corporate/commercial sponsorship
  • BP is providing £1m of sponsorship
  • commercial sponsorship of women's football is growing
  • companies enter into sponsorship agreements for many reasons
  • corporate sponsorship is a popular marketing tool
  • they were unable to attract major sponsorship
  • the company has sponsorship deals with two separate cricket clubs
  • Noun: sponsor
  • Verb: sponsor
  • Disney eventually sponsored three research field trips
  • Samsung has sponsored the team since 2000
  • some sponsors are large national and multinational companies
  • original corporate sponsors included two local banks

spot

spɒt
Upper Intermediate
pp100-101
a spot is a particular place where someone or something is, or where something happens
Noun
  • a beauty spot
  • a tourist spot
  • we chose a nice spot for the picnic
  • this is a good spot to catch fish
  • we visited all the popular tourist spots
  • a beauty spot (a place which is very attractive, usually in the country)
  • we parked in a shady spot under a tree

spot

spɒt
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
a spot is a small lump or mark on someone’s skin, especially on their face
Noun
  • I came out in spots (I suddenly had a lot of spots)
  • use this cream next time you get spots
  • she had a spot where the wasp had stung her
  • his face was a mass of wrinkles and spots

sprain

spreɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp48-49
if you sprain your knee, ankle, wrist etc., you hurt it and damage it by twisting it suddenly
Verb
  • he fell out of a tree and sprained his neck
  • I sprained my knee
  • I think I’ve sprained my ankle
  • no one was hurt except the driver, who sprained his wrist
  • Noun: sprain
  • Adjective: sprained
  • this was a severe sprain and needed months of therapy
  • you haven’t broken it – it’s only a sprain
  • she had a sprained wrist
  • he suffered a sprained left shoulder

spread

spred
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
if something spreads, it gradually begins to cover a wider area
Verb
  • spread through an area
  • spread to somewhere
  • spread slowly
  • spread rapidly
  • unfortunately, the cancer continued to spread
  • the fire spread rapidly through the farm buildings
  • the violence spread to neighbouring villages
  • Noun: spread
  • closing the border won’t stop the spread of the disease
  • the spread of communism that followed the Second World War

sprinkle

ˈsprɪŋk(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
to sprinkle something means to shake a small amount of it over something else
Verb
  • sprinkle something with something
  • sprinkle something over something
  • crush the almonds and sprinkle over the cake
  • sprinkle the cake with sugar
  • drain thoroughly and sprinkle lightly with salt
  • serve the pears warm, sprinkled with a chocolate topping
  • Noun: sprinkling
  • Noun: sprinkle
  • add the milk and a sprinkling of salt
  • a sprinkling of chopped parsley
  • now add a sprinkle of grated cheese

squeeze

skwiːz
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
if you squeeze something, you press it very firmly
Verb
  • squeeze something out of something
  • 0
  • Noun: squeeze
  • I gave her hand a squeeze
  • a squeeze of lemon juice
  • we all got in, but it was a bit of a squeeze (there wasn’t much room)

stab

stæb
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
to stab someone means to attack and hurt them by pushing a knife into them
Verb
  • he was stabbed outside the nightclub
  • he was stabbed to death
  • she stabbed him twice and ran downstairs
  • Noun: stab
  • Noun: stabbing
  • in one incident a man suffered stab wounds
  • the stab was too low to reach his heart
  • there have been three stabbings so far this month
  • he was arrested five hours after the stabbing

stable

ˈsteɪb(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp126-127
a stable is a building where horses are kept
Noun
  • an ambitious horse will never return to its old stable
  • leave the horses in the stable
  • the stables were converted into a house
  • Verb: stable
  • her pony’s stabled (kept in a stable) at a nearby farm
  • we decided to stable the horses here rather than send them away

stack

stæk
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
a stack of things is a large pile of them
Noun
  • surrounded by stacks of old newspapers
  • each player has a stack of coloured counters
  • Emma was counting a neat stack of folded handkerchiefs
  • my clothes were all folded up in stacks
  • Verb: stack
  • five large cardboard boxes were neatly stacked by the front door
  • lift them very carefully and stack them ready to use again

stage

steɪdʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
to stage a play or other performance means to organise it and present it in front of an audience
Verb
  • the group stage all their plays in prisons
  • James was busy writing and staging successful musicals
  • a large main hall which stages concerts and community events
  • the opera was never staged in Vienna in his lifetime
  • Noun: stage
  • Noun: staging
  • I don’t go on stage until the final act
  • he returned to the stage after five years working in Hollywood (he started acting in the theatre again)
  • another staging of Hamlet will take place next Tuesday

stain

steɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp26-27
a stain is an unwanted mark on something that is very difficult to remove
Verb
  • do you know how to get rid of these stains?
  • there was a coffee stain on his shirt
  • blood stains
  • grass stains
  • some stains are difficult to remove
  • don’t rub it; you’ll just spread the stain
  • Verb: stain
  • Adjective: stained
  • blood from the accident stained the floor
  • it might stain your clothes, so handle it carefully
  • wash that out quickly or it will stain
  • his clothes were stained with blood
  • he wore dirty jeans and a stained T-shirt

stake

steɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp128-129
when you make a bet, your stake is the amount of money that you risk. The stakes are things you risk losing if something fails. You can say that something is at stake if you risk losing it
Noun
  • we play for very small stakes
  • a £10 stake
  • the company is taking a risk, and the stakes are high (they risk losing a lot)
  • the chairman has raised the stakes by threatening to resign
  • there’s a lot at stake in this election

stamina

ˈstæmɪnə
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
stamina is strength that allows you to continue doing hard exercise for a long time
Noun uncount
  • you need a lot of stamina to do marathon running
  • I haven’t got the stamina to walk that far
  • help to build up your stamina
  • he’s got a lot of mental stamina
  • you can increase your stamina with some simple exercises

stand to

ˈstænd
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
if you stand to get something or stand to lose something, it’s likely that you will get it or lose it
Verb
  • stand to gain/win/benefit something
  • stand to lose something
  • a lot of countries stand to benefit from the trade agreement
  • he stands to lose a lot of money
  • we stand to gain a lot from the merger
  • I stand to win £10,000

stand up for

ˈstænd ˌʌp fɔː(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
if you stand up for yourself, you defend yourself and insist on having or keeping what you are entitled to and do not let other people do things that will cause you problems
Phrasal verb
  • standing up for yourself is sometimes necessary
  • I can assure you she's more than capable of standing up for herself
  • well I hope he can stand up for himself
  • I'm not a child. I can stand up for myself

standpoint

ˈstæn(d)ˌpɔɪnt
Upper Intermediate
pp128-129
your standpoint is the particular way you have of thinking about a particular idea, event, or situation
Noun
  • from that standpoint it's a good investment
  • from a design standpoint, this product is a disaster
  • before answering, consider the situation from a customer standpoint
  • recently, this standpoint has been questioned

star

stɑː(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
stars are large objects out in space like our sun. We can see them because they burn very fiercely and give out a lot of light. Some people believe that the way stars move in the sky and their position at certain times has an influence on what happens to people on earth
Noun
  • it’s written in the stars that you will become famous
  • it was in the stars that she would marry a prince

state

steɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
the state of something is the condition that it is in
Noun
  • look at the state of the place. It’s filthy!
  • the kitchen was in a terrible state
  • the car was in a bad state of repair (it didn’t work properly)
  • he’s in no fit state to go to work (he’s too ill)

steer

stɪə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
to steer a vehicle or boat means to control it and choose the direction it goes in all the time. To steer a course or path through a situation means to do what is necessary to deal with the situation successfully and achieve a good result
Verb
  • steer a course/path (through something)
  • try to steer through these confrontations
  • you don’t need to steer clear of them altogether (avoid them)
  • try to steer children towards making the right choices
  • I tried to steer the conversation away from the trip
  • he tried to steer the party in the right direction

steer clear

stɪə(r) ˈklɪə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
if you steer clear of something, you deliberately do not go there or have anything to do with it
Phrase
  • it’s a rough part of town – I’d steer clear of it if I were you
  • he tried to steer clear of the reporters
  • I try to steer clear of processed food (not eat it)

stem

stem
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
a stem is the long thin part of a plant that a flower grows on. If something stems from something else, it has that other thing as its origin
Noun
  • cut the stems before you put the flowers in the vase
  • the stems can grow up to 60 cm
  • it has tough, woody stems
  • roses with long stems
  • Verb: stem
  • stem from something
  • the economic crisis stemmed from mistakes made by the banks
  • weight problems often stem from a poor diet
  • the show's popularity stems largely from its mix of education and humour

step

step
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
a step is one part of a process that will need several things to happen, one after the other
Noun
  • step by step
  • a first step
  • a major step
  • take (a) step(s)
  • providing every child with an anti-mosquito bed net would be a major first step
  • seven steps towards improving morale in the workplace
  • a major step forward is within sight
  • his next step was to hire an office manager
  • here are the basic steps needed to create your own development plan
  • he took steps to improve the department's finances
  • the plan must be carried out step by step (in the right order, and not trying to do everything at once)

step back

ˈstep ˌbæk
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
if you step back from a situation, you stop being involved in it so that you can think about it carefully and decide what you need to do
Phrasal verb
  • the government should step back for a while until the situation is clearer
  • let’s step back for a moment before we get further involved
  • it’s difficult to step back when you see your kids making the same mistakes you made 20 years ago
  • he stepped back before he could say anything he’d regret

stick to

ˈstɪk tʊ
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
if you stick to something, you continue to do it or use it rather than changing to something different
Phrasal verb
  • the locals stick to wearing traditional costumes
  • let’s stick to the original plan
  • I always find it hard to stick to a diet
  • he stuck to his principles
  • she stuck to her word (she did what she had promised to do)

stiff

stɪf
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
if you feel stiff, your muscles and joints move only with difficulty because you are ill, or because you have been very active, or because you have been in the same position for a long time
Adjective
  • my knee is quite stiff this morning
  • I woke up with a stiff neck
  • take a hot shower after exercise so that you don’t get stiff
  • my legs were stiff after sitting in the plane for five hours
  • people who suffer from backache and stiff joints
  • I woke up the next morning stiff as a board (very stiff indeed)
  • Noun: stiffness
  • Adjective: stiffly
  • sprains, bruises and muscular stiffness
  • I could run thirty miles with little stiffness afterwards
  • the hot bath did not prevent a certain stiffness of limbs
  • Norden stood up stiffly
  • she climbed stiffly out of the car

stiff

stɪf
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
something that is stiff doesn’t move as easily as it ought to
Adjective
  • you have to push quite hard – the handle’s very stiff
  • the lock on the back door is stiff
  • my knee is quite stiff this morning
  • Adverb: stiffly
  • Noun: stiffness
  • I lifted the latch and the door opened stiffly
  • if you oil the gears you might reduce the stiffness

stimulating

ˈstɪmjʊˌleɪtɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
an activity that is stimulating makes you think a lot in an enjoyable or useful way
Adjective
  • a stimulating environment/experience/activity
  • Noun: stimulation
  • get stimulation from something
  • mental stimulation
  • intellectual stimulation

stir

stɜː(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp134-135
if you stir food while it is cooking, you use a spoon or other tool to move it around in its cooking container so that it all mixes together and so that it does not burn or stick
Verb
  • stir something with something
  • stir something into something
  • you have to keep stirring so that it doesn’t burn
  • stir constantly with a wooden spoon
  • stir the oats into the warm milk
  • slowly add water while stirring to avoid lumps
  • stir the mixture until the sugar has dissolved
  • Noun: stir
  • give the soup a stir

stitch

stɪtʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
if you have stitches, a doctor uses a strong thread to close up your skin where you have had a deep cut
Noun
  • have stitches
  • have stitches out
  • she had to have four stitches in her knee
  • come back in a week and I’ll take the stitches out (remove them)
  • who put the stitches in?
  • dissolvable stitches (stitches that will disappear naturally and won’t need to be removed)

stock

stɒk
Upper Intermediate
pp142-143
the stock of a shop or company is the amount of goods it has that are available and ready to be sold or sent out to customers
Noun
  • in stock
  • out of stock
  • stock levels
  • I’m phoning to check stock levels in the warehouse
  • everything in the catalogue is in stock and is immediately available
  • several of the books I wanted were out of stock (not available)
  • this offer is only open while stocks last (until everything has been sold)
  • Verb: stock
  • Noun: stockist
  • the shop was poorly stocked (did not have many goods)
  • we stock more than forty different kinds of cheese
  • check our website for details of your nearest stockist (shop that sells a particular item)

stock

stɒk
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
to stock a place means to fill it with things. To re-stock a place means to fill it with things again after it has been emptied
Verb
  • stock the shelves/cupboard/fridge
  • stock a bar
  • stock something with something
  • we stocked the fridge for Christmas.
  • you need to re-stock your wardrobe for winter
  • stock the lake with salmon
  • the garden was well stocked with plants

stock exchange

ˈstɒk ɪksˌtʃeɪndʒ
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
a stock exchange is a place where shares in companies are bought and sold. If a company is floated on the stock exchange, shares in that company become available for the first time
Noun
  • we floated the company on the stock exchange
  • they lost a lot of money on the stock exchange
  • the New York stock exchange
  • the London stock exchange closed 15 points lower (the value of all the shares was slightly lower at the end of the day)
  • the stock exchange fell by 15%
  • the stock exchange rose slightly

store

stɔː(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp142-143
a store is a shop, especially a large shop
Noun
  • we’re opening a new flagship store in Tokyo
  • a department store (a large shop which sells a wide range of goods in different departments)
  • Tesco reduced the number of new stores they opened last year
  • the streets are dominated by chain stores (businesses which have similar shops in lots of different towns and cities)
  • prices vary between rival stores

stormy

ˈstɔː(r)mi
Upper Intermediate
pp66-67
stormy weather is when there is a lot of heavy rain and wind. If people’s relationships are stormy, there is a lot arguing and disagreement
Adjective
  • stormy weather
  • a stormy relationship
  • we’ve had a lot of stormy weather recently
  • the night was stormy and very cold
  • their relationship was stormy from the day they married
  • after several stormy meetings he decided to resign
  • following a stormy debate, parliament voted against the proposal
  • Noun: storm
  • the storm raged all night
  • the airport was closed because of the approaching storm

straight

streɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
a straight answer is a clear and honest reply to a serious question
Adjective
  • I couldn’t get a straight answer out of anyone
  • what we need from our politicians is some straight answers
  • Tommy gave straight answers and expected them in return
  • Adverb: straight
  • I’ll tell you straight: I don’t want to work for you

straightforward

ˌstreɪtˈfɔː(r)wə(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
if something is straightforward, it is very simple, and there are no problems or difficulties involved
Adjective
  • relatively/fairly straightforward
  • perfectly straightforward
  • a straightforward matter/case
  • these problems can be overcome in relatively straightforward ways
  • a fairly straightforward decorating job
  • it should be relatively straightforward to set everything up

straightforward

ˌstreɪtˈfɔː(r)wə(r)d
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
if something is straightforward, it is very simple, and there are no problems or difficulties involved
Adjective
  • relatively/fairly straightforward
  • perfectly straightforward
  • a straightforward matter/case
  • it was a straightforward birth
  • a fairly straightforward decorating job
  • it should be relatively straightforward to set everything up

strain

streɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp38-39
if there is a strain on something, there is a problem because there is too much demand for it. If there is a strain on a relationship, problems and disagreements mean that two people or groups have trouble living or working together
Noun
  • be under strain
  • put a strain on something
  • this puts a great strain on scarce resources
  • the holiday put a real strain on our finances
  • a flu epidemic would place a considerable strain on the health service
  • her marriage was under considerable strain
  • the drop in business relieved some strain on the transport network
  • Verb: strain
  • Adjective: strained
  • the extra costs are likely to strain our finances
  • the incident has strained relations between the two countries
  • the friendship between the two leaders became strained
  • relations between the central and regional authorities were strained

strap

stræp
Upper Intermediate
pp30-31
a strap is a length of material such as cloth or leather that is used to hold something in place
Noun
  • the strap has come off my watch
  • it was an expensive leather strap
  • a dress with very wide shoulder straps
  • the drummers used white straps to support their drums
  • Verb: strap
  • their weapons were strapped to their belts
  • the pilot wouldn’t start the plane until everyone had strapped themselves in

strength

streŋθ
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
strength is the physical power that makes someone strong and able to do things like lift heavy objects
Noun
  • physical strength
  • brute strength
  • gain/regain your strength
  • she possessed great physical strength and courage
  • this needed skill rather than brute strength (the use of force rather than thought)
  • he was not eating enough to regain his strength
  • he has both strength and mental toughness
  • Verb: strengthen
  • Adjective: strong
  • these exercises help strengthen your neck muscles
  • she needs to do something that will stretch and strengthen her tired muscles
  • he was the strongest boy in the class
  • I wasn’t strong enough to lift the box

stretch

strɛtʃ
Upper Intermediate
pp80-81
if you stretch yourself, or if something stretches you, you have to do things that are too difficult for you, but which help you improve your skills or knowledge so that they are no longer too difficult
Verb
  • I feel I’m really stretching myself
  • a school which really stretches the students
  • the work doesn’t stretch me enough

strike

straɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
if something strikes you in a particular way, it makes you think about it in that way and influences the opinion that you form
Verb
  • strike someone as something
  • be struck by how something happens
  • this may strike you as a conventional painting
  • doesn’t his behaviour strike you as odd?
  • the first thing that struck me was how few people were there
  • I was struck by how cheerful she seemed (I noticed it)
  • Adjective: striking
  • Adverb: strikingly
  • the two books have striking similarities
  • the second example was even more striking
  • her own conclusions were strikingly different

stubborn

ˈstʌbə(r)n
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
someone who is stubborn does not like to change their mind about something and does not listen to people who try to persuade them to change
Adjective
  • a stubborn streak
  • stubborn refusal/resistance
  • I've had to be stubborn, single-minded and selfish in my pursuit of a movie career
  • Charles's stubborn attitude has only made matters worse
  • he said I was being very stubborn and that I should just give up the idea
  • there is a stubborn streak which runs through everyone in my family
  • after a week of stubborn resistance, he finally gave in
  • Adverb: stubbornly
  • Noun: stubbornnes
  • for all his stubbornness, he is in fact hinting that he is ready to do a deal
  • a character of immense stubbornness
  • my father used to get so angry at her stubbornness
  • it was only her own stubbornness that was keeping her away from the party
  • Patrick shook his head stubbornly
  • she fought stubbornly to have her daughter returned to her

stuck

stʌk
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
if you are stuck somewhere, you cannot get away even though you want to
Adjective
  • people got stuck in their cars overnight
  • we were stuck inside thanks to the rain
  • I’m going to be stuck in London all summer
  • the van got stuck in the mud (was unable to move)
  • several vehicles became stuck in the snow

stuff

stʌf
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
you can use stuff to refer to things such as a substance, a collection of things, events, ideas, or the contents of something in a general way without mentioning the thing itself by name
Noun uncount
  • the Beatles? That’s the kind of stuff my dad listens to
  • we played games like Monopoly and stuff like that
  • I hate opera and that kind of stuff
  • we need to buy some stuff for the house
  • just dump your stuff in the corner, we’ll show you your room later

stunning

ˈstʌnɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
something that is stunning is very beautiful. You can also describe a very attractive person as stunning
Adjective
  • absolutely stunning
  • stunning scenery
  • a stunning view
  • a stunning building
  • the room looked stunning and was arranged beautifully
  • she’s absolutely stunning
  • a stunning view from the hotel window
  • the cottage is set in stunning scenery
  • the stunning countryside of Wensleydale
  • Adverb: stunningly
  • a stunningly beautiful woman

subject

səbˈdʒekt
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
if you subject someone to something, usually something difficult or unpleasant, you make them do it or experience it
Verb
  • subject someone to something
  • they are then subjected to questioning from the panel
  • he claimed they had subjected him to torture
  • his cousin was subjected to repeated beatings
  • my family was subjected to death threats
  • her husband subjected her to years of abuse

subsidise

ˈsʌbsɪdaɪz
Upper Intermediate
pp128-129
if a government subsidises activities or businesses, it provides them with extra money that they need to survive but which they cannot get from their own earnings. Sometimes this is to enable manufacturers to sell goods at lower prices
Verb
  • heavily subsidise something
  • the industry is still heavily subsidised
  • Ontario has subsidised solar power energy
  • the department subsidises higher education through student loan programmes
  • much of this new construction was subsidised by public money
  • Noun: subsidy
  • Adjective: subsidised
  • Noun: subsidisation
  • an agricultural subsidy
  • subsidies from the European Union
  • small producers are given massive subsidies
  • the government pays huge subsidies to farmers
  • students here are given subsidised Internet access
  • subsidised bus services
  • they live in a subsidised flat
  • he actively pursued government subsidisation
  • calls to end the subsidisation of polluting industries

subsidy

ˈsʌbsədi
Upper Intermediate
pp64-65
a subsidy is an amount of money that a government pays in order to help a producer sell goods at a lower price and still have a profit
Noun
  • they survive thanks to subsidies of around €200 per bull
  • an agricultural subsidy
  • subsidies from the European Union
  • small producers are given massive subsidies
  • the government pays huge subsidies to farmers
  • Verb: subsidise
  • heavily subsidise something
  • the industry is still heavily subsidised
  • Ontario has subsidised solar power energy

substantially

səbˈstænʃ(ə)li
Upper Intermediate
pp110-111
substantially means greatly or a lot
Adverb
  • substantially reduce/increase
  • substantially more/less
  • the flight has been substantially delayed (delayed for a long time)
  • deliver substantially more profit
  • the new model was not substantially different from the previous one
  • a tax reduction which substantially reduced the costs of making the film
  • Adjective: substantial
  • a substantial increase/decrease
  • a substantial difference
  • a substantial improvement
  • substantial growth/development
  • a substantial rise in industrial profits
  • a substantial increase in debt
  • we expect substantial improvements in productivity
  • the economy had three years of substantial growth

substitute

ˈsʌbstɪˌtjuːt
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
a substitute is a player who does not start a match but comes on later if someone is injured or if the manager wants to change the team
Noun
  • a substitute for someone
  • I came on as a substitute after a player got injured
  • he was brought on as a substitute for Rooney
  • Fletcher was an unused substitute in the final (he was ready to play but was not needed)
  • he made an appearance as a second-half substitute
  • Verb: substitute
  • Noun: substitution
  • Cole was substituted ten minutes before the end
  • Soldado pulled a muscle and was substituted by Eriksen
  • Aston Villa are going to make another substitution

substitute

ˈsʌbstɪˌtjuːt
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
to substitute one thing for another means to replace the first thing with the second thing
Verb
  • substitute something for something
  • be substituted with something
  • gangs were substituting the cheaper meat at one stage of the process
  • you can substitute honey for sugar (use honey instead of sugar)
  • the goalkeeper was substituted (replaced by another player)
  • the cabbage leaves can be substituted with peppers
  • Noun: substitute
  • Noun: substitution
  • Adjective: substitute
  • oil that has been mixed with cheap substitutes
  • you can use yogurt as a substitute for cream
  • a sugar substitute
  • vitamin supplements are no substitute for a healthy diet
  • he was brought on at half time as a substitute (to replace another player)
  • there is an urgent need for substitution of faulty products
  • the need to place children in substitute families

subtle

ˈsʌt(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
subtle colours, tastes, smells etc. are not very strong, but in a very pleasant way
Adjective
  • subtle colours are softer and more delicate
  • the subtle flavour of green tea
  • the walls were painted a subtle shade of blue
  • Adverb: subtly
  • a subtly flavoured dish of rice and peas
  • subtly different colours blended to give a calming effect

subtle

ˈsʌt(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp136-137
something that is subtle is difficult to see or notice unless you pay very careful attention
Adjective
  • a subtle difference
  • a subtle change
  • very/incredibly/extremely subtle
  • a subtle hint of something
  • there’s a subtle difference between the two pictures
  • I didn't add enough pepper and the effect was too subtle
  • if there really is a difference, it's incredibly subtle
  • there was a subtle hint of lemon in the dish
  • the change of colour scheme was too subtle to attract much notice
  • Adverb: subtly
  • Noun: subtlety
  • British policy has already shifted subtly
  • the two symbols are subtly different
  • Ron's version of events changed subtly with every retelling
  • the film lacks subtlety (it is too direct and obvious)
  • she wrote exceptionally well, with great subtlety and depth

suffocate

ˈsʌfəkeɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp54-55
if someone suffocates, they die because they are unable to breathe
Verb
  • you could’ve suffocated while you were sleeping
  • he nearly suffocated
  • he tried to suffocate his victims (kill them by stopping them breathing)
  • Noun: suffocation
  • she died from suffocation
  • death was due to suffocation

suicide

ˈsuːɪsaɪd
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
suicide is the action of killing yourself
Noun
  • commit suicide
  • the central character commits suicide
  • he attempted suicide twice when he was in prison
  • he died in what the police said was an apparent suicide
  • the suicide rate increased by 15% (the number of people who commited suicide rose)
  • Adjective: suicidal
  • feeling suicidal is a very worrying state to be in
  • he’d had suicidal thoughts before

sum up

sʌm ʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp84-85
to sum up means to say something that is a summary of what you have just been saying, especially at the end of a speech or presentation
Phrasal verb
  • sum up a talk/speech/lecture
  • to sum up: if you want a great holiday, come to Cyprus
  • the speaker summed up her talk with just two words: vote Democrat
  • let me sum up by saying how much I’ve learned from talking to you all today
  • use the last paragraph to sum up your argument
  • Noun: summing-up
  • the meeting ended with a summing-up by the chairman, and then a vote
  • it was a complicated topic and his summing-up took nearly an hour

sunset

ˈsʌnˌset
Upper Intermediate
pp52-53
sunset is the time of day when the sun goes out of sight and the sky changes colour as it grows dark
Noun
  • a spectacular/stunning/glorious sunset
  • just look at that sunset!
  • we went for a walk on the beach at sunset
  • there was a spectacular sunset that evening
  • we worked from sunrise to sunset
  • I watched the sunset from a deck chair on the terrace
  • it was one of those lovely autumn sunsets

sunshine

ˈsʌnˌʃaɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
sunshine is bright light and warmth that comes from the sun when the weather is fine and there no clouds
Noun
  • be in sunshine
  • bright/glorious/brilliant sunshine
  • warm sunshine
  • one moment we were in sunshine, next minute it was pouring with rain
  • the weather was wonderful with bright sunshine
  • sunshine streamed in through the windows
  • the garden looked lovely in the afternoon sunshine
  • a dry day with spells of warm sunshine

supplement

ˈsʌplɪment
Upper Intermediate
pp82-83
if you supplement something you already have, you add to it
Verb
  • supplement income/earnings/salaries/pensions
  • he took a night job to supplement his wages
  • Adjective: supplementary
  • supplementary material/information
  • supplementary exercises on the DVD
  • the range of supplementary materials is growing

surgery

ˈsɜː(r)dʒəri
Upper Intermediate
pp108-109
surgery is a medical treatment that involves cutting into someone’s body in order to repair or take out a part that is diseased or damaged
Noun uncount
  • undergo surgery
  • major/minor surgery
  • emergency surgery
  • it happened while I was undergoing surgery
  • you may need further surgery
  • she had to have emergency surgery
  • heart surgery
  • brain surgery
  • keyhole surgery (in which only a small opening is made through your skin)
  • cosmetic surgery (to improve your appearance)
  • spending six hours in the operating theatre having major surgery
  • elective surgery (surgery that a patient chooses to have, although it is not essential)
  • Adjective: surgical
  • Adverb: surgically
  • Noun: surgeon
  • a surgical procedure/treatment/intervention
  • a surgical procedure to remove the lump
  • pioneering new surgical techniques
  • surgical intervention would be too dangerous in this case
  • the lump was surgically removed
  • a newly-qualified surgeon
  • surgeons worked through the night to treat victims of the plane crash

suspect

səˈspekt
Upper Intermediate
pp110-111
if you suspect something, you think it is true although you do not have any evidence or proof that it is
Verb
  • strongly suspect
  • be widely suspected
  • art historians have long suspected the painting was by da Vinci
  • I strongly suspect it will take longer than two weeks
  • it is widely suspected that Williams was the other person involved in the fraud (suspected by a lot of people)
  • Noun: suspicion
  • a strong suspicion
  • a sneaking suspicion
  • my suspicion is that they will close down the whole department
  • she had a strong suspicion that he would not return
  • I have a sneaking suspicion that we won’t see him again (a suspicion that I don’t like but can’t forget)

suspicious

səˈspɪʃəs
Upper Intermediate
pp124-125
if you think something or someone is suspicious, you do not trust them because you think that there is something wrong or dishonest about them
Adjective
  • suspicious behaviour
  • suspicious activity
  • deeply/highly suspicious
  • they blocked my card because of suspicious activity
  • if you see anything suspicious, call the police
  • a suspicious-looking man
  • he was behaving in a highly suspicious manner
  • he urged everyone to report suspicious behaviour
  • Adverb: suspiciously
  • Noun: suspicion
  • Verb: suspect
  • act suspiciously
  • suspect someone of something
  • she saw a man acting suspiciously outside the shop
  • I have the suspicion that he knows something
  • our suspicions turned out to be unfounded (not true)
  • the police suspect him of fraud

sustain

səˈsteɪn
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
to sustain something means to make sure that conditions allow it to continue
Verb
  • sustain something indefinitely
  • barely sustain something
  • will Afghanistan ever be able to sustain itself?
  • an economic system that cannot be sustained indefinitely
  • present levels of funding barely sustain the organisation's activity
  • the earth can easily sustain the current population of 7.1 billion
  • this will not only sustain economic growth but also generate employment
  • Adjective: sustained
  • Adjective: sustainable
  • Noun: sustainability
  • Antonym – Adjective: unsustainable
  • new investment is vital for sustained economic growth
  • a sustained improvement in exports
  • they promote sustainable farming in the region
  • research into sustainable energy sources
  • factors that influence the sustainability of worldwide food supplies
  • an emphasis on environmental sustainability
  • this is an unsustainable state of affairs
  • that rate of investment proved unsustainable

sweat

swet
Upper Intermediate
pp44-45
sweat is water that comes out of your body onto your skin when you are very hot or ill or doing hard physical exercise
Noun uncount
  • work up a sweat
  • come out in a sweat
  • he works up a sweat just running for the bus
  • sweat was pouring down his face
  • he came out in a cold sweat (he felt slightly afraid)
  • the bedclothes were soaked in sweat
  • Alan wiped the sweat from his forehead
  • Verb: sweat
  • Adverb: sweaty
  • he was sweating heavily in the heat
  • I was shivering and sweating at the same time
  • his hands were sweaty
  • a pair of sweaty socks

sweep up

ˈswiːp ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp18-19
if you sweep up things that are on the floor, you use a brush to bring them together so that you can throw them away when you are cleaning somewhere and making it tidy
Phrasal verb
  • we had to sweep up all the confetti afterwards
  • he swept up the broken glass
  • I had a job sweeping up hair at the barber’s shop

swell up

ˈswel ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
if a part of your body swells up or swells, it gets larger than usual because you are ill or uncomfortable
Phrasal verb
  • her throat swelled up so much she needed an operation
  • my feet always swell up on aeroplanes
  • his lips started swelling up
  • my ankle had swollen up
  • Adjective: swollen
  • Noun: swelling
  • her face was a bit swollen
  • a large swelling on his neck

swerve

swɜː(r)v
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
if you swerve, you change direction very suddenly, usually in order to avoid hitting or crashing into something
Verb
  • swerve violently/sharply
  • swerve towards/around something
  • everyone was swerving in and out of lanes
  • I swerved to avoid a cat
  • a lorry swerved across the road in front of me
  • I swerved off the road
  • she was hit by a bus which swerved into her path

swift

swɪft
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
something that is swift happens very quickly and with no delay
Adjective
  • swift medical treatment was provided
  • the response was swift and effective
  • he took a swift glance at the newspaper
  • swift action is needed if we are to stay in business
  • the robbery was well organised and swift
  • Adverb: swiftly
  • Noun: swiftness
  • he looked swiftly around the room
  • Tina ran out, swiftly followed by Peter
  • the storm arrived with terrible swiftness
  • the swiftness of his decline was unexpected

swing

swɪŋ
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
if you or your opinions swing, you change your ideas about something
Verb
  • some people swing from one extreme to the other
  • her mood could swing from joy to despair within a matter of minutes
  • public opinion has swung to the left (become more left-wing)
  • Noun: swing
  • she suffers from mood swings
  • a big swing in public opinion

swipe

swaɪp
Upper Intermediate
pp70-71
if you swipe a card, you pass it through a device that reads information from it and, for example, opens a door for you or lets you pay for something
Verb
  • the machine grabbed all my details when I swiped my card through it
  • swipe your card here to confirm the payment
  • the magnetic strip was damaged and nothing happened when I swiped it

symbolic

sɪmˈbɒlɪk
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
a symbol is an object, picture, or shape that is used to represent a particular idea or feeling in art or literature. If something is symbolic, it uses pictures or shapes to represent ideas or feelings
Adjective
  • highly/heavily symbolic
  • symbolic meaning/significance
  • the picture is heavy with symbolic meaning
  • animals were highly symbolic figures in Egyptian art
  • the flowers are symbolic of life (they represent it)
  • the symbolic significance of the tree was obvious
  • a highly symbolic act (with an important meaning)
  • Noun: symbol
  • Verb: symbolise
  • Noun: symbolism
  • a symbol of something
  • a powerful symbol
  • the dog in the painting is a symbol of loyalty
  • the dove is traditionally the symbol of peace
  • the gun was a powerful symbol of authority
  • a dove is often used to symbolise peace
  • the event symbolises the country’s struggle for democracy
  • trying to analyse the symbolism in the painting

symbolise

ˈsɪmbəlaɪz
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
if an object, picture, or shape symbolises a particular idea or feeling in art or literature, it is used to represent that feeling or idea
Verb
  • the cat symbolises jealousy
  • a dove is often used to symbolise peace
  • the event symbolises the country’s struggle for democracy
  • Noun: symbol
  • Adjective: symbolic
  • Noun: symbolism
  • the dog in the painting is a symbol of loyalty
  • the dove is traditionally the symbol of peace
  • the picture is heavy with symbolic meaning
  • animals were highly symbolic figures in Egyptian art
  • trying to analyse the symbolism in the painting

sympathy

ˈsɪmpəθi
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
if you feel sympathy for someone, you feel sorry for them because they are sad or in a bad situation
Noun uncount
  • feel/have/show/express sympathy (for/towards someone)
  • deepest/heartfelt sympathy
  • we would like to pass on our deepest sympathy to Jeff’s widow, Kath
  • she got no sympathy from her sister, who was secretly delighted
  • I felt no sympathy for him
  • do you have any sympathy for her?
  • Verb: sympathise
  • Adjective: sympathetic
  • Adverb: sympathetically
  • the neighbours came round to sympathise when they heard the news
  • would it help if I go and lend him a sympathetic ear? (go and listen to him sympathetically)
  • Albert had been very sympathetic, but he could do nothing to make the situation better
  • she listened sympathetically as he poured out his grief
  • “Poor old you”, he said sympathetically

tackle

ˈtæk(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
to tackle someone in a game such as football or hockey means to take the ball away from them
Verb
  • I was tackled just when I was about to shoot
  • he tackled the striker just outside the box
  • improve your tackling skills
  • the midfield players tackled hard
  • Noun: tackle
  • that was a great tackle
  • penalised for a late tackle
  • a fair tackle
  • a crunching tackle (with a lot of force)
  • he skipped past the tackles
  • he missed the tackle, and Bale got past to score

tackle

ˈtæk(ə)l
Upper Intermediate
pp138-139
if you tackle a problem, you do something in a determined way to solve it or to make a situation better
Verb
  • tackle a problem/challenge
  • effectively/successfully tackle something
  • a programme that aims to tackle childhood obesity
  • institutions capable of effectively tackling 21st-century challenges
  • how should the school tackle this problem?
  • Andrew will talk about how to tackle the various challenges of the course
  • a few industries seem to be successfully tackling this challenge

tactics

ˈtæktɪks
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
tactics are the methods you choose to use that will help you achieve what you are trying to do, especially in a competition, election, or battle
Noun plural
  • they called a time-out to discuss tactics
  • Bennett employed a range of tactics to win the election
  • the unit lost many soldiers as a result of his aggressive tactics
  • the tactics worked and they took the city within a week
  • Adjective: tactical
  • Adverb: tactically
  • Noun: tactician
  • their retreat was purely tactical
  • this was clearly a tactical decision
  • the Iranian commanders were more tactically skilled
  • tactically and strategically, these operations made no sense
  • Edward was a brilliant tactician and leader in battles
  • Mrs Merkel is, after all, Europe's master tactician

take off

teɪk ɒf
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
if something such as a business or other activity takes off, it starts to be very successful
Phrasal verb
  • after two years, the business really took off
  • he left acting after his music career took off
  • the project finally took off in late autumn
  • sales took off as demand for the product grew worldwide

take out

ˈteɪk ˌaʊt
Upper Intermediate
pp116-117
if you take out something such as an insurance policy, a mortgage, or a bank loan, you get it by applying for it and paying the fee that is needed
Phrasal verb
  • take out a loan/mortgage/policy
  • we managed to take out a mortgage
  • you need to take out an insurance policy for your trip abroad
  • I tried to take out a loan but the bank refused it

take over

ˌteɪk ˈəʊvə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp90-91
when one company takes over another company, it becomes the new owner and the two companies combine to become one company
Phrasal verb
  • half the directors left as soon as the firm was taken over
  • it was their third attempt to take over the rival company
  • we were taken over by the largest mining company in the world
  • Noun: takeover
  • a takeover bid
  • a hostile takeover
  • Murdoch launched a takeover bid in early December
  • they voted to remain independent and reject the hostile takeover (a takeover that the company did not want to agree to)
  • government approval was needed before they could complete the takeover

take the mickey

ˌteɪk ðə ˈmɪki
Upper Intermediate
pp56-57
if someone says you are taking the mickey, they are accusing you of making fun of them by deceiving them or telling lies
Phrase
  • take the mickey out of someone
  • they took the Mickey out of him because of his accent
  • what did you say? Are you taking the mickey?
  • Don’t take the mickey. He can’t help it

tank

tæŋk
Upper Intermediate
pp28-29
a tank is a military vehicle that is made of very strong and thick metal to protect it, that has several guns, and that can travel over difficult ground
Noun
  • the Soviets won a fierce tank battle at Kursk in 1943
  • a regiment of armoured tanks
  • a tank commander
  • anti-tank weapons (guns that are powerful enough to damage a tank)

tank

tæŋk
Upper Intermediate
pp98-99
the tank is the container in a car or other vehicle that holds the petrol
Noun
  • fill the tank (up)
  • an empty tank
  • a petrol/fuel tank
  • I filled the tank with petrol
  • we’ve got a full tank
  • the tank’s nearly empty
  • there’s a nasty hole at the bottom of my fuel tank

tank

tæŋk
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
a tank is a military vehicle that is made of very strong and thick metal to protect it, that has several guns, and that can travel over difficult ground
Noun
  • the Soviets won a fierce tank battle at Kursk in 1943
  • a regiment of armoured tanks
  • a tank commander
  • anti tank weapons (guns that are powerful enough to damage a tank)

target

ˈtɑː(r)ɡɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp74-75
to target someone or something means to choose them to be the object of an attack, investigation, or criticism
Verb
  • the police targeted key establishments
  • the block of flats was deliberately targeted by burglars
  • computer hackers targeted several banking websites
  • Kerry supported aggressively targeting drug dealers
  • a victim of targeted computer virus attacks
  • Noun: target
  • attacks on both military and civilian targets
  • a frequent target of organized crime

target

ˈtɑː(r)ɡɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp146-147
a target is the object you try and hit in sports such as shooting or darts or archery. A target is also something you try and achieve in your life or an objective you have as part of your job
Noun
  • our target market is young adults between the age of 20 and 27 (the people we hope will buy our product)
  • our target is to reduce inflation to less than 5%
  • a meeting to set our targets for next year
  • his house was a prime target for robbers
  • our initial target was to raise £3m
  • Verb: target
  • Adjective: targeted
  • advertising on buses targets pedestrians and drivers
  • each book targets a specific language skill
  • a victim of targeted computer virus attacks

tear

tɪə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp8-9
tears are small drops of liquid which come from your eyes when you cry. If someone is in tears, they are crying because they are upset or because something is sad
Noun
  • be in tears
  • be close to tears
  • burst into tears
  • she had tears running down her face
  • the ending of the film had me in tears (made me cry because it was so sad)
  • as soon as he was alone, Fergus burst into tears (suddenly started to cry)
  • Adjective: tearful
  • Adverb: tearfully
  • Elizabeth looked tearful as she watched her parents leave
  • her tearful face was turned toward Alice
  • the girl tearfully shook her head

tear

teə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp48-49
if you tear a muscle or a ligament, you damage it by moving in a way that puts too much strain on it
Verb
  • I tore my knee ligaments
  • he tore a muscle just before the match started
  • a completely torn tendon (cord that joins muscle to bone) requires surgery

technically

ˈteknɪkli
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
if something is technically true or technically possible, then it is true or possible, but not very relevant or likely
Adverb
  • be technically possible
  • be technically true
  • it is technically possible to get a visa to travel there
  • the legend is technically true but highly misleading
  • Florida is not technically considered a southern state
  • he gave you money, so technically you sold it to him
  • it’s technically feasible, but it would be too expensive to manufacture it commercially

tend

tend
Upper Intermediate
pp72-73
to tend something or someone means to look after them carefully and do what is needed for them to stay healthy and keep in good condition
Verb
  • tend to someone
  • they were encouraged to keep pets and tend their garden
  • he tended his wife during her final illness
  • I need to go and tend to the baby

tense

tens
Upper Intermediate
pp118-119
if you are tense, you feel worried and nervous, and it is difficult for you to relax and think calmy
Adjective
  • feel tense
  • do this exercise when you're under pressure or feel tense
  • it's the worry about Jill that's making me tense
  • bright colours in planes can make passengers feel tense
  • I had not realised how tense the past few days had made me
  • Noun: tension
  • they all laughed and it helped to relieve the tension
  • the tension was unbearable

tension

ˈtenʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp10-11
tension is a feeling of excitement or fear, or a feeling of distrust between people
Noun
  • there’s a lot of tension in the painting
  • the tension builds throughout the film
  • there is mounting tension between the two communities
  • growing tension along the border between the two countries
  • tensions are high in the capital following the president’s resignation
  • the tension finally erupted into violence on the streets
  • Adjective: tense
  • the atmosphere in the city is still tense
  • there was a tense silence in the room
  • the arrival of the police only made a tense situation worse
  • the increasingly tense relationship between her parents

tension

ˈtenʃ(ə)n
Upper Intermediate
pp20-21
tension is a feeling of distrust between people
Noun
  • further tensions between residents and developers
  • there is mounting tension between the two communities
  • growing tension along the border between the two countries
  • tensions are high in the capital following the president’s resignation
  • the tension finally erupted into violence on the streets
  • Adjective: tense
  • the atmosphere in the city is still tense
  • there was a tense silence in the room
  • the arrival of the police only made a tense situation worse
  • the increasingly tense relationship between her parents

terror

ˈterə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp84-85
terror is the use of extreme violence for political purposes
Noun uncount
  • a terror attack
  • a terror campaign
  • we will not give in to terror
  • the war on terror can never be won
  • the IRA’s campaign of terror finally came to an end
  • a series of brutal terror attacks on the capital
  • Noun: terrorist Noun: terrorism Verb: terrorize
  • a terrorist organization/group/cell/network
  • a terrorist act/activity/attack/bombing
  • a terrorist threat
  • terrorize someone into doing something
  • terrorize civilians/residents
  • an operation against a large terrorist organization
  • a series of terrorist bombings caused panic among the population
  • the threat of terrorism constantly hung over them
  • he was arrested on terrorism charges
  • government attempts to combat terrorism
  • 9/11 was a major act of terrorism against the United States
  • the bombings terrorized people in the villages nearby
  • attempts to terrorize the civilian population into leaving the city

terrorism

ˈterəˌrɪz(ə)m
Upper Intermediate
pp34-35
terrorism is the use of violence against ordinary people in order to achieve a political objective
Noun uncount
  • the government is soft on terrorism
  • we will fight terrorism at home and abroad
  • a spokesman condemned terrorism in all its forms
  • the government wants more powers to tackle terrorism
  • the growing threat of terrorism in the late 20th century
  • Noun: terror
  • Noun: terrorist
  • the war on terror
  • ten people died in the terrorist attack
  • both terrorists were killed when police stormed the building
  • he denied having any connection with a terrorist organisation

test

test
Upper Intermediate
pp84-85
to test someone means to make them answer a set of questions in order to find out how much they know about a subject
Verb
  • test someone on something
  • we were tested twice a week in maths
  • Mr Wilkins is going to test us on Friday
  • can you test me on my history? (ask me a few questions to check if I’ve remembered enough)
  • Noun: test
  • a weekly/regular test
  • a practical/multiple-choice/online test
  • a written/oral test
  • a maths test
  • a spelling test
  • a geography test
  • you have half an hour to complete the test

theft

θeft
Upper Intermediate
pp102-103
theft is the crime of stealing something that does not belong to you. Someone who commits the crime of theft is a thief
Noun
  • car/bike/vehicle/theft
  • petty theft
  • identity theft
  • the theft of something
  • he was found guilty of theft
  • car theft has been going down for several years
  • a victim of identity theft (when someone steals your personal details and pretends to be you)
  • a few cases of petty theft (when something not very valuable is stolen)
  • a recent spate of thefts around the college
  • thieves broke in and stole some jewellery
  • don’t allow a thief easy access to the back of the house

themed

θiːmd
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
a theme is a general subject or idea that is present throughout a piece of writing, music, a lecture etc. If a place is themed, it is made to reflect a particular way of life or to look like a particular place
Adjective
  • a trend to place them in a themed setting such as sitting on their motorbike
  • an American-themed leisure park (a leisure park where everything is made to look American)
  • the nautically themed Arden Arms (a pub where the decoration makes it look like the inside of a ship)

therapy

ˈθerəpi
Upper Intermediate
pp46-47
therapy is treatment for physical or mental problems that does not involve drugs or surgical operations
Noun
  • I’d rather go to the gym than have therapy
  • he’s had some therapy
  • cancer therapy
  • alternative therapies
  • exercise therapy was effective in reducing pain
  • he still is undergoing physical therapy twice a week
  • occupational therapy (treatment to help someone get back skills they lost after being ill or injured)
  • Noun: therapist
  • Adjective: therapeutic
  • consult a local therapist for more information
  • Marina suffers from depression and is being treated by a therapist
  • my therapist helped me get through the experience
  • her approach is based on solid therapeutic principles
  • these products are fresh and therapeutic

threatened

ˈθret(ə)nd
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
if you feel threatened by something or someone, you think they will hurt you or do something bad to you
Adjective
  • feel threatened (by something/someone)
  • everyone in the village felt threatened
  • the person experiencing this anxiety constantly feels threatened
  • people who feel threatened are more likely to buy guns
  • Verb: threaten
  • Adjective: threatening
  • Adverb: threateningly
  • Noun: threat
  • threaten someone with something
  • threaten to do something
  • face a threat (of something)
  • Galileo was threatened with physical torture
  • when danger threatens, horses run away
  • the government repeatedly threatened to close the university
  • she looked at me and made a threatening gesture
  • she was charged with posting a threatening letter to the President
  • he shook his fist, and advanced threateningly
  • one of them laid his hand threateningly on my arm
  • the threat of global warming
  • they faced threats of violence

throw up

ˈθrəʊ ˌʌp
Upper Intermediate
pp106-107
if you throw up, food that you have eaten comes back up from your stomach and out of your mouth. Throw up is informal, and a more polite word is vomit
Phrasal verb
  • I felt a lot better after I’d thrown up
  • as the sea got rougher, people on deck started throwing up
  • he threw up all over the teacher’s skirt
  • just the smell of it made me want to throw up

thunder

ˈθʌndə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp62-63
thunder is the loud noise that you hear in the sky during a storm
Noun singular
  • the thunder was so loud it woke me up
  • a faint rumble of thunder
  • the thunder was getting louder
  • a loud crash of thunder followed by more lightning
  • a sudden clap of thunder
  • the thunder rolled and roared all around us
  • Verb: thunder
  • Adjective: thundery
  • did you hear it thundering earlier?
  • it thundered all night and the rain poured down
  • the weather looked heavy and thundery
  • a thundery, purple-grey sky

tile

taɪl
Upper Intermediate
pp16-17
tiles are flat, usually square, pieces of a solid material that are stuck onto walls or floors as a covering or as decoration. Tiles are also used as the top covering of roofs
Noun
  • floor/wall tiles
  • roof tiles
  • a factory that produces tiles
  • we used black and white tiles in the bathroom
  • how many tiles will the roof need?
  • ceramic floor tiles
  • the tile floors were beautiful but cold
  • Verb: tile
  • Adjective: tiled
  • Noun: tiler
  • Noun: tiling
  • we’re going to tile the lower half of the walls
  • a tiled hall
  • the bathroom is fully tiled
  • he worked as a decorator and tiler
  • the tiling looked brand new after the clean-up
  • elegant Victorian tiling in the entrance hall

tire

ˈtaɪə(r)
Upper Intermediate
pp12-13
if you tire of something, you become bored with it because it is no longer new or interesting to you
Verb
  • never tire of something
  • we never tire of these plots
  • many pilots soon tire of the same routine
  • she quickly tired of his dreadful jokes
  • Adjective: tired
  • be/get/grow tired of something
  • I grew tired of his rudeness
  • he was getting tired of the whole adventure
  • I’m tired of arguing with you

toast

təʊst
Upper Intermediate
pp120-121
a toast is an occasion when people drink together to celebrate something or to wish people luck
Noun
  • propose/make a toast
  • drink a toast
  • a toast to someone/something
  • anyone could make a toast and speak
  • I’d like to propose a toast to the bride and groom
  • we drank a toast to the team
  • Verb: toast
  • toast someone/something with/in something
  • we all toasted the happy couple
  • the couple's vows will be toasted in champagne

tolerance

ˈtɒlərəns
Upper Intermediate
pp144-145
tolerance is the ability to let other people do or say things that you do not agree with or do not approve of
Noun uncount
  • religious tolerance
  • social tolerance of excessive drinking has become far too great
  • he has no tolerance for political extremism
  • to encourage mutual respect and tolerance
  • Adjective: tolerant
  • Noun: toleration
  • Verb: tolerate
  • Adjective: tolerable
  • Adverb: tolerably
  • Antonyms – Noun: intolerance
  • Adjective: intolerant
  • Adjective: intolerable
  • Adverb: intolerably
  • a tolerant and open minded father
  • we're an open and tolerant society
  • he campaigned for religious toleration and the reform of parliament
  • her father would not tolerate lying
  • the noise was annoying and barely tolerable
  • the flat was tolerably large
  • religious prejudice and intolerance
  • he became intolerant of opposition
  • the situation was intolerable
  • the room was intolerably hot

tolerate

ˈtɒləreɪt
Upper Intermediate
pp36-37
if you tolerate something, you allow it to happen even though you do not approve of it
Verb
  • that kind of behaviour shouldn’t be tolerated
  • our culture has decided to tolerate traffic violence
  • he would not tolerate any interference
  • political dissent was not tolerated
  • Noun: toleration
  • Adjective: tolerant
  • Adjective: tolerable
  • Antonyms – Adjective: intolerant
  • Adjective: intolerable
  • Noun: intolerance
  • toleration of slavery was a national evil
  • religious toleration (when people are allowed to observe whatever religion they want)
  • I consider myself a very tolerant person
  • he was much more tolerant of opposition parties and human rights
  • at the time it was annoying but tolerable
  • he was not intolerant towards other religions
  • what kind of intolerant society are we living in?
  • conditions in the factory were intolerable
  • such misuse of British passports was intolerable
  • sadly, both sides teach violence and intolerance
  • disputes about religious intolerance